An elderly woman was ejected from and dragged by a roller coaster in Colorado, resulting in severe brain and lung injuries.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Nicki Parker, 60, was allegedly catapulted out of her seat on the Rocky Mountain Coaster at Copper Mountain despite her fastened seatbelt, local news outlets Fox 31 Denver, Westword and Summit Daily reported, citing her attorney, Trent Ongert with Bloch Ongert Injury Law.
Elderly Woman Dragged by Roller Coaster
The Rocky Mountain roller coaster is designed to stop if any passenger's seatbelt becomes disconnected. Ongert alleges that wasn't the case for his client, who was dragged as her cart continued moving.
"It was actually wrapped around her and pulled her. She was dragged along the track as it went down," said Ongert, per Fox 31 Denver.
Parker was allegedly dragged along the track for an estimated 20 to 30 seconds.
Ongert told Fox 31 Denver that her husband, who was riding in the car behind her, witnessed the incident and tried to rescue her.
"She was lying on the track. He then had to get her out because there was nobody, no way to get to her," said Ongert. "They're about 15 to 20 feet off the ground."
The Rocky Mountain roller coaster spans 5,800 feet and features a 430-foot vertical drop. The ride has a max speed of 25 miles per hour.
Following her painful experience, Parker sustained a traumatic brain injury, a broken rib that punctured and collapsed her lung and a dislocated shoulder that required surgery. The 60-year-old woman also suffered several lacerations.
Copper Mountain announced that the ride has since been closed.
"The Coaster is closed while Copper Mountain works with the state Division of Oil and Public Safety and the manufacturer to review the incident," the resort said. "Our thoughts are with the guest. We wish them a speedy recovery."
The incident comes one day after Six Flags shut down the world's first 4-D roller coaster after a rider was seriously injured.
Six Flags announced on Thursday that the X2 attraction was being shut down for good. The troubled ride was responsible for two deaths and dozens of hospitalizations. One rider, who underwent emergency brain surgery, remains in a coma.
