Six Flags is set to reopen the Texas Giant roller coaster two months after a 52-year-old grandmother was fatally flung out of her seat and plunged to her death while on the ride.
The roller coaster will reopen with new safety measures in place this weekend, Six Flags Over Texas said in a statement Tuesday, reports CNN. These new measures include a redesigned restraint bar, pads, new seat belts and a coaster seat at the ride's entrance for visitors to test their fit before they get in line.
The ride has been closed since Rosa Esparza fell out of a car and plummeted to her death at the amusement park in Arlington on July 19.
The family of the Dallas woman has filed a civil wrongful-death lawsuit Tuesday, accusing Six Flags of negligence, ABC News reports.
According to the lawsuit, Esparza's daughter heard screams behind her and turned around to see her mother being thrown out of the car.
She was thrown against the ride and then catapulted onto the metal roof of a tunnel below, the lawsuit says, dying from the traumatic injuries she sustained.
"As Rosa Esparza's tragic death starkly illustrates, errors on the part of the Six Flags Defendants turned a thrilling illusion into a nightmarish reality," the lawsuit says. "Customers of the park expect mock scares and delighted screams as they ride the Texas Giant roller-coaster, but they certainly do not expect to be placed in any real danger, whatsoever."
Six Flags spokeswoman Sandra Daniels responded in a statement Thursday: "While our thoughts and prayers remain with Ms. Esparza's family and friends, there are a number of inaccuracies contained in the recent lawsuit and we intend to defend ourselves vigorously."
In their statement Tuesday, park officials said an investigation had revealed that there had been no mechanical failure on the ride.
"Due to litigation, the company is not releasing any further information about the outcome of the investigation," the statement said.
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