(ProsperNews.net) – A man has died after he was struck by a rollercoaster at an amusement park in Ohio. Arntanaro Nelson, from Wilmington, died in hospital two days after the Banshee roller coaster crashed into him at the Kings Island amusement park in Mason, around 25 miles from Cincinnati. Nelson reportedly entered a restricted park area, hoping to locate his lost keys under the ride.
The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office listed the 38-year-old’s death as a “suspected accident” but stated that investigations were ongoing.
Reports indicate that an employee told Mr. Nelson he could not search for his keys until after the ride had shut down, but he continued his quest and pushed through a gate toward an area closed off to the public. The Banshee was traveling at around 70 mph when it struck Nelson, but his exact injuries remain unclear. The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Division of Amusement Ride Safety & Fairs is investigating, and the ride was closed for three days.
The Banshee is the world’s longest steel inverted roller coaster, at 4,124 feet. The ride lasts three minutes and climbs to 167 feet in height, which is relatively small compared to the Kingda Da in New Jersey, which reaches 456 feet.
The Ohio incident occurred just days after dozens of people became trapped on AtmosFear drop tower at the Oaks Amusement Park in Portland, Oregon. Emergency responders rescued 28 riders who had hung upside down for more than 30 minutes.
In what’s considered the worst US theme park incident on record, eight teenagers died after becoming trapped in a Haunted Mansion attraction that caught fire in 1984. Six Flags Great Adventure and its parent company, Six Flags, were indicted for aggravated manslaughter and paid millions of dollars in damages.
The deadliest roller coaster incident worldwide occurred in London, England, in 1972, when the Big Dipper in Battersea Park derailed, killing five children and seriously injuring a dozen others.
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