A 60-year-old Texas woman remains hospitalized after she was ejected from the Rocky Mountain Coaster at Copper Mountain and dragged along the track last week. The coaster is now closed pending investigation.
Nicki Parker was riding the coaster with her husband when her attorney said she was thrown from her seat while rounding a curve near the bottom of the ride. According to the Copper Mountain website, the coaster is deemed family-friendly and descends 430 vertical feet on an average grade of 10.9% with a maximum speed of 25mph.
According to her lawyer’s news release, Parker, entangled by her seat belt, was reportedly dragged down the metal track as the cart continued moving. Her husband remained in the cart behind her, watching “helplessly.” She suffered a broken rib that punctured her lung, a dislocated shoulder and a traumatic brain injury.
The state agency’s Amusement Rides & Devices Program is responsible for overseeing amusement rides. A similar ride operating at Purgatory Resort is also closed pending the outcome of the investigation.
