Raging Bull coaster at Six Flags Great America getting seat belts after fatal accident in Georgia
The Raging Bull roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee will have seat belts installed in the wake of a deadly accident earlier this month aboard a similar ride near Atlanta.
Seat belts also are planned for Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia and Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, according to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation.
The change comes in the wake of the death of a 42-year-old man who fell Oct. 12 from Goliath at Six Flags over Georgia. Eight rides similar to the Goliath at five other parks have been temporarily closed “out of an abundance of caution,” according to a company statement.
Raging Bull at Great America is similar to Goliath in Georgia, said Kristin Fitzgerald, corporate director for public relations and communications for Six Flags Entertainment. Great America also has a coaster named Goliath, but it has a different style, manufacturer and restraint system than the Georgia coaster, she added.
According to the Great America website, Raging Bull is the park’s tallest coaster at 202 feet and longest at 5,057 feet. It can travel up to 73 mph and features a “twisting layout, powerful drops and relentless pace.”
“We are ensuring that all similar coasters have seat belts,” in addition to a lap restraint, Fitzgerald said.
“The timing of when these seat belts will be installed may vary by attraction based on the reviews, engineering requirements, availability of components and applicable approval processes,” she added.
An attraction won’t reopen until the necessary work and reviews associated with that ride have been complete. Park-specific dates will be provided as information becomes available, according to Fitzgerald.
Six Flags already has a “comprehensive, multilayered safety and inspection program,” and is adding a companywide review to identify ways to further strengthen safety, she said.
That independent review will assess safety procedures and practices across the company’s portfolio of rides and attractions, she said, including areas such as inspection protocols, preventive maintenance, operating procedures and training and documentation.
“Rather than replacing or duplicating our existing inspection program, it will take a broader, enterprise-wide look at our safety procedures and practices to identify opportunities to further strengthen our approach,” Fitzgerald said.
The independent review schedule is being determined. Any issues identified as requiring immediate attention will be addressed promptly rather than waiting for the entire process to be finish, Fitzgerald said.
mzawislak@dailyherald.com