Lady Thrown from Texas Giant

A typical day at Six Flags Over Texas was darkened quite a bit on Friday, July 19th.  At around 6:45 pm, Rosy Esparza sat into one of the three trains on the Texas Giant coaster with her son.  Witnesses remarked she felt uncomfortable riding, stating the lap bar restraint wasn't low enough.  It was then the ride attendant was stated as saying something to the like of "As long as you heard it click, you'll be fine".  Witnesses also attest to the ride attendant acting 'nonchalant'.  Gerstlauer, the manufacture of the trains, commented that the restraints on Texas Giant's cars do not make a click when they lock, they use lights on the side instead which indicate if a restraint is locked.

However, it turned out to not be enough as the woman tumbled from the ride.  The ride has been shut down since.  Six Flags also ordered a similar coaster, Six Flags Fiesta Texas' Iron Rattler, which features the same track system and trains as Texas Giant, to be shut down while officials conduct the investigation.  A few rides also made by Gerstlauer were shut down by various parks, including Pandemonium at Six Flags Over Texas and Hershey Park's SooperDooper Looper.  While Pandemonium has opened since, it isn't clear when the other three will re-open.

Texas Giant originally opened in 1990 as an all wooden coaster. Designed by Dinn Corperation, who also designed Mean Streak at Cedar Point, it was 143 high, a top speed of 62 mph and had 4920 ft of track.  For the park's 50th anniversary, the ride was given an overhaul with an all steel I-bar track designed by Rocky Mountain Construction.  The ride was raised to a height of 152 ft, the first drop steepened from 53 degrees to 79 degrees, and has a higher top speed of 65 mph.  Other creations from RMC include Iron Rattler at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City.