Woman dies after falling from Texas rollercoaster

A WOMAN riding the tallest rollercoaster of its kind in the world has died after falling from the 14 storey structure.

The Texas Giant is the biggest rollercoaster of its kind in the world. Picture: Chris Hagerman (cc)

The accident occurred at the Six Flags Over Texas theme park near Dallas. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the woman falling from the Texas Giant ride.

Carmen Brown, a visitor waiting to take the ride at the time of the accident, told the Associated Press: “She goes up like this. Then when it drops to come down, that’s when it (the safety bar) released and she just tumbled.

“We heard her screaming. We were like, ‘Did she just fall?’”

Park spokeswoman Sharon Parker confirmed that a woman died while riding the rollercoaster but did not specify how she was killed.

The Texas Giant was opened in 1990, and upgraded and renovated in 2011. It is the tallest steel-hybrid coaster in the world, takes a 79 degree drop and can carry up to 24 riders.

Six Flags expressed sadness over the death and said it was temporarily closing the section of the park around the accident site.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends during this difficult time,” the park’s statement said.