Six Flags Roller Coaster Strikes Tree Leaving 4 Injured

A roller coaster in Santa Clarita, California hit a tree branch at the Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park last Monday. The impact dislodged the front car, leaving four people injured and keeping nearly two dozen people hanging 20 to 30 feet from the ground for hours.

Two of the four people injured were taken to a hospital for treatment. Twenty-two riders were trapped on the ride for nearly three hours. According to the park’s website, the ride swoops through trees to give the riders an additional thrill. The coaster hit a tree branch around 5:30pm on Monday and came to a crashing halt. According to a witness, “It was just a lot of leaf noise and then cracking noises and crashing noises and a lot of screaming.”

However, such incidents are rare and attendance at amusement parks has been increasing. According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, there are 4.3 injuries per million attendees at U.S. fixed-site amusement parks. Of course, this statistic is maintained by the amusement park industry and is not verified by any independent group or governmental agency.

Statistics aside, the accident occurred nearly a year after a woman died after being ejected from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. Her family has sued both Six Flags and the German company that designed and manufactured the coaster’s trains.

If you or someone you know have been injured or killed due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another, or a defective product, contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211.