Teenager killed by a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia

Teenager killed by a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia A South Carolina teenager was decapitated by a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Saturday, it was reported on the latest accident at the team park. The 17-year-old from Columbia, SC, was decapitated by a roller coaster, when he jumped over a fence into the restricted area of the ride. The teen was with a youth group from Oakey Springs Baptist Church from Salley, S.C., and at this time officials are uncertain why the boy jumped over the fence. Some reports claim the South Carolina teenager entered the dangerous area to retrieve a hat he lost while riding the Batman roller coaster. Another report claims the teen and a friend climbed over two 6-foot fences, the park perimeter fence and a second one surrounding the ride, as a shortcut to get back into the park after lunch. The Batman ride is in the same area, and park officials said there were numerous signs warning would-be intruders of the danger.

Six Flags said it closed the roller coaster after the Saturday afternoon accident out of respect for the teen's family. The ride was expected to reopen on Sunday, according to a Six Flags news release, but reports indicate the ride will remain closed through the weekend while police continues the investigation. The rest of Six Flags remained open. This is the second accident involving a ride at Six Flags in less than an year. Last June a 13-year old girl lost both of her feet when a Superman ride malfunctioned at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville.

Published on 06/29/2008