The New Texas Giant coaster at Six Flags over Texas will reopen this weekend (September 14-15, 2013) following a July 2013 accident that resulted in the death of one rider.
An investigation after the accident involved multiple entities including Gerstlauer (the ride train manufacturer), internal engineers and external experts who ruled out any mechanical failure of the ride.
Changes to the coaster include the “addition of incremental and overlapping safety measures for the ride, including re-designed restraint-bar pads from the manufacturer and new seat belts.”
The coaster has undergone extensive testing and has received approval from the state of Texas, Department of Insurance, to resume operation.
“We are heartbroken and will forever feel the pain and sadness of this tragic accident. Our sincerest condolences go out to the family and friends of Ms. Esparza,” said Steve Martindale, park president of Six Flags Over Texas. “The safety of our guests and employees is our company’s absolute highest priority and we try to take every reasonable precaution to eliminate the risk of accidents.”
Six Flags reiterated its safety record, as well as the safety of the amusement industry: “Six Flags has successfully operated regional theme parks for 52 years and takes great pride in the quality of its safety record, ride maintenance and employee training, safely delivering approximately 200 million rides each year. According to data gathered by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, the industry safely provides approximately 1.7 billion rides annually in the United States and the likelihood of a person being seriously injured on a permanently-located amusement park ride is extremely remote.”
Read the official update from Six Flags over Texas here.
Will you ride New Texas Giant once it reopens? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
I would, If I went there.
I would ride it without hesitation.
If I lived in or visited Texas, as well as visited SFOT, I would most likely ride Texas Giant. If I also visited SFFT, I would also ride Iron Rattler. SFM’s Medusa is getting transformed, and it’s already speculated that SFMM’s Colossus could be next in line for hybrid transformation.
I pretty much settle with SFOG, since I live near Atlanta. I feel that 2014 may be somewhat of a boring year, with Hurricane Harbor waterpark replacing Southern Star Amphitheatre. I like the new SkyScreamer ride, but do miss riding Wheelie… even wish that SFOG had kept the classic Schwarzkopf Enterprise ride, but moved it to a different section of the park… but I’m pleased that it found new home at Fun Spot in Orlando, and hope that Fun Spot takes very good care of it. My all-time favorite SFOG ride is Mind Bender.
Hope that SFOG gets new steel coaster in 2015, in the form of Premier Rides spaghetti bowl launch coaster (clone of SFA’s Joker’s Jinx & SFFT’s Poltergeist) or Intamin zac-spin coaster (clone of SFMM’s Green Lantern)… as well as hope that SFOG eventually does away with Ninja, and replaces it with X2 inspired 4D coaster by S&S Worldwide or B&M, or X-Flight cloned wing coaster by B&M. Also hope that Georgia Cyclone gets RMC iron horse re-track (hybrid transformation) in time for 2017 season, the year that SFOG celebrates its 50th.
I also like a lot of the other SFOG rides as well, including Thunder River, Log Jamboree, Acrophobia, Goliath, Monster Mansion, Superman: Ultimate Flight, Batman: The Ride, and Georgia Scorcher.
I disagree, with Goliath at SFGAM (which i’m proud to say that I will be one of the first to ride it) 2014 will be a very interesting year. Plus Zumanjaro will be opening, which I think will have some great photos and videos.