Six Flags Denies Liability in Roller Coaster Death
Accident Information
On July 19, 2013, Rosa Esparza was riding the Texas Giant roller coaster with her daughter and son-in-law, while her grandchildren waited for them at the end of the ride. Esparza’s daughter heard screaming behind her when the ride began its first steep descent, and turned to see her mother upside down, struggling to hold the safety bar as she was thrown from the car. Esparza was thrown against a support piling and fell to the metal roof of a tunnel.
Restraint Repairs
According to court documents, Six Flags claimed staff was properly trained in maintenance of the ride, and pointed to the millions of people who had ridden the ride without incident. Park officials said that they followed all manufacturers “maintenance and operational instructions,” and further contended that the park met ASTM standards and followed the requirements of Texas law. However, evidence showed that a restraint limit switch was replaced in the same car that Esparza was riding in a few days after the accident, and Six Flag acknowledged having replaced the mechanism.
Responsibility Denial
Six Flags officials said an independent contractor, Gerstlauer Amusement Rides, was responsible for the safety and design of the restraint system that did not keep Esparza inside the car. The ride reopened just days after the filing of the lawsuit by Esparza’s family. Six Flags categorically denied any wrongdoing in the incident. When negligence is suspected as the contributing factor in an accident that causes injury or death, a liability suit may be in order.
Six Flags Denies liability in this tragic case, but families affected by amusement park accidents may still have legal options. Contact Dallas-Fort Worth attorneys, Frenkel & Frenkel, for a free initial consultation if you or a loved one has been injured, or a loved one has died, as a result of an accident caused by someone else’s negligence.