Colorado officials are investigating after a woman was injured on an alpine coaster at Copper Mountain in Summit County. The incident occurred on Aug. 17, according to the Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety, which oversees amusement rides in the state.
The incident occurred on Aug. 17 on the Rocky Mountain Coaster, which is about 120 kilometres west of Denver. The woman, identified as Nicola Parker of Texas, was riding the single-seat car when she was thrown out of the car, according to her legal representatives. Her lawyers say she was ejected from the cart with the seatbelt still on and was dragged along the track as the ride descended.
According to her attorneys, Parker suffered a traumatic brain injury, a broken rib that punctured and collapsed her lung, a dislocated shoulder, and deep lacerations. She was initially treated at a nearby hospital before being transferred to a trauma center because of the severity of her injuries, her attorneys said, adding that Parker has required multiple surgeries since.
Her husband Tim was with her at the time and witnessed the incident, her attorney said. "He had to climb the safety netting to get to her. They're about 15 to 20 feet off the ground," the attorney said. Her attorney said she was allegedly thrown from the ride and sustained life-threatening injuries as a result.
A statement from the Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety said Copper Mountain Patrol responded to an incident involving the ride on August 17. "When members of the patrol arrived, the guest was seated in the golf cart with their seatbelt fastened," the statement said. "Patrol assisted the guest to the base area, where care was transferred to Summit Fire & EMS."
Copper Mountain said it is working with the Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety and the manufacturer to review the incident. The ride is currently closed pending the state's investigation. A similar attraction at Purgatory Resort in Durango is also closed, and a statement from the resort said it is cooperating with the investigation.
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment said an investigation will take one to two months to complete. Unless all violations are corrected, the resort may be issued a notice of violation and may face a fine and an order to keep the ride closed.
The Rocky Mountain Coaster, which opened in 2017, features a 5,800-foot track with a 360-degree turns. The ride was carrying a passenger, according to a statement from the resort, when the rider was ejected from the single-seat car, which was moving at a high rate of speed. The passenger, who had been riding alone, was taken to a local hospital for treatment.