brainsmile
06-04-2003, 10:32 AM
Witnesses saw a woman "virtually standing up" while riding a roller coaster at an amusement park moments before she fell to her death, investigators said.
Tamar Fellner, 32, fell from the ride Saturday while it was in the midst of a 69-foot drop, said officials of the Holiday World park.
Just before the accident, a person matching Fellner's description "was seen in the last car of the roller coaster virtually standing up while the ride was in progress," investigators said, based on witness accounts.
Fellner, from New York City, was among a group of roller-coaster enthusiasts riding the wooden Raven roller coaster at the park. She was seated in the last row of the six-car train, and a preliminary investigation showed her seat belt and lap bar were buckled and locked when she started the ride.
Witnesses told investigators that her seat belt was unbuckled when the car returned to the station, said a statement issued by Spencer County Prosecutor Jon Dartt.
Inspectors on Sunday found the seat belt and bar restraint where Fellner had been sitting working properly.
William Koch, president of the amusement park, said he was relieved the park about 40 miles east of Evansville and its employees appeared to be cleared by the investigation.
"It sounds as though they're leaning toward the possibility that she may not have been in the correct riding position," Koch said. "If that is the case, then we would feel confident that the ride, as a whole, is functioning as it should."
Fellner was riding next to her fiance, Robert Weitzner, officials said. He did not immediately return a call Wednesday to his New York City home.
Fellner's father declined to comment Wednesday.
"We're in a state of mourning, and we're not discussing anything," said Azriel Fellner, a rabbi in Livingston, N.J.
Both The Raven and The Legend, the park's other wooden roller coaster, were shut down during the investigation. The Legend was expected to reopen later Wednesday and The Raven possibly over the weekend.
The park also hired an independent inspector to review The Raven's operations and safety and maintenance procedures later this week, Koch said.
Fellner was a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts group, which was at the amusement park for a park-sponsored "Stark Raven Mad" event.
Tamar Fellner, 32, fell from the ride Saturday while it was in the midst of a 69-foot drop, said officials of the Holiday World park.
Just before the accident, a person matching Fellner's description "was seen in the last car of the roller coaster virtually standing up while the ride was in progress," investigators said, based on witness accounts.
Fellner, from New York City, was among a group of roller-coaster enthusiasts riding the wooden Raven roller coaster at the park. She was seated in the last row of the six-car train, and a preliminary investigation showed her seat belt and lap bar were buckled and locked when she started the ride.
Witnesses told investigators that her seat belt was unbuckled when the car returned to the station, said a statement issued by Spencer County Prosecutor Jon Dartt.
Inspectors on Sunday found the seat belt and bar restraint where Fellner had been sitting working properly.
William Koch, president of the amusement park, said he was relieved the park about 40 miles east of Evansville and its employees appeared to be cleared by the investigation.
"It sounds as though they're leaning toward the possibility that she may not have been in the correct riding position," Koch said. "If that is the case, then we would feel confident that the ride, as a whole, is functioning as it should."
Fellner was riding next to her fiance, Robert Weitzner, officials said. He did not immediately return a call Wednesday to his New York City home.
Fellner's father declined to comment Wednesday.
"We're in a state of mourning, and we're not discussing anything," said Azriel Fellner, a rabbi in Livingston, N.J.
Both The Raven and The Legend, the park's other wooden roller coaster, were shut down during the investigation. The Legend was expected to reopen later Wednesday and The Raven possibly over the weekend.
The park also hired an independent inspector to review The Raven's operations and safety and maintenance procedures later this week, Koch said.
Fellner was a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts group, which was at the amusement park for a park-sponsored "Stark Raven Mad" event.