By Talia Mollett
Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer
AUSTELL - State inspectors kept Six Flags' Batman roller coaster closed Monday after a South Carolina teen was decapitated Saturday while walking with a friend through a restricted area.
Georgia Department of Labor Legislative Liaison Charlie Schroeder said inspectors are working quickly to complete an investigation.
"At present, the ride has been taken out of service pending completion of our preliminary investigation into the incident," he said. "When we're satisfied the ride can be operated safely, it will return to operation."
Six Flags spokeswoman Hela Sheth said officials anticipate re-opening the ride shortly.
"Both state inspectors and county investigators have conducted their investigations of the ride and preliminarily communicated there is nothing wrong with the ride itself; it is fully safe to operate," she said. "We are now awaiting their confirmation that the perimeter fencing and multiple warning signs meet or exceed recommended safety standards."
On Monday, the Cobb County medical examiner ruled Columbia, S.C., resident Asia Leeshawn Ferguson's death an accident.
Cobb Police Sgt. Dana Pierce said Ferguson, 17, and a male companion were trying to take a shortcut from the parking lot to get to the ride.
"Apparently the motive behind the two men jumping the two fences, which both were between six and eight feet tall, was to get near the Batman ride as quickly as they could," he said, adding that the fences are lined with several signs warning guests of danger and informing them that the area is restricted to park personnel only.
Pierce said the ride passed over Ferguson, who was possibly struck by the lower part of one of the seats. The roller coaster, which reaches speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, suspends riders from an overhead track.
Cobb Police's Crimes Against Persons Unit was expected to complete its investigation of the area yesterday.
Earlier reports said Ferguson and his companion may have entered the area to retrieve a hat or other property, but Pierce said police could not find anything to substantiate the story. Police will not file charges against Six Flags or Ferguson's companion, he said.
Both males were part of a church group visiting the park from Oakley Spring Baptist Church near Springfield, S.C., about 47 miles east of Augusta, according to police.
Police said numerous 911 calls from the theme park were placed on Saturday in reference to the incident.
tmollett@mdjonline.com
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Posted Comments
Ridiculous. Instead of ruling it "accidental", they should have called it what it really was: STUPID!
What the hell was that kid thinking? Just goes to show that they put up those warnings up for a reason!
although this incident is very unfortunate and i feel sorry for the family who lost their sun however it goes under the guidelines how dumb can you be...you enter a RESTRICTED area hmm do you think its restricted for a reason?
maybe he couldent read?
An accident is when every precaution is taken correctly and something bad still happens beyond anyone's control. Negligence is when someone is acting without proper care and causes something bad to happen even when it was not intended. Perhaps that's a legal term and the medical examiner can't use it in his capacity. But it is still negligence.
teens just think there invicible!MY luck goes to the parents!:((((((((((((((((((
This was a horrible incident to happen to anyone regardless of their age. You would think that a 17 year old would know better then to go into a restricted area, however he was only 17 years old. At that age or even older people make bad decisions, some people are lucky enough not to die when they go out and drive drunk or other stupid things. This kid's decision cost him his life. People will critize this kid for making a "stupid" decision, but our justice system will slap a drunk driver who kills someone in an "accident" with a simple sentence and expect people to forgive them. Warning signs or not, the fence for the restricted area should have been tall enough to prevent anyone who would attempt to climb the fence. My prayers are with your family Asia.
They should have posted gaurds at every restricted spot , paid them $20.00 an hour with benifits and raised the price to $200.00 ticket. After all, we are the society that can not accept personel responsibility.
I really hope his family is not planning on filing a lawsuit but I am sure they will try. To bad they have no grounds to sue on!
Praise be to Darwin!!! This kid should be nominated for the Darwin Awards!
Once again the question, "WHERE WERE THIS CHILD'S PARENTS". Well we know where they were not.....did they drop their child off at six flags to be babysitted by six flags. Just wait and see, the grieve striken parents have probably not even buried their son, but I am sure they are already just waiting to sue, someone. I am sure they will blame anyone but themselves, but really who else could you blame, you raised this careless child, you let him go to six flags with no parent and you now must live your days without him....let's just hope you have not other careless children who make stupid decisions.
I think they should show the accident scene pictures to all teens in a class called "Making good decisions 101" And show all the parents too...
who cares... teenagers have gotten used to ignoring all warning signs and getting away with all types of misbehaving, he broke the rules by being somewhere he was warned not to be, he made a mistake and paid for it. maybe it can be a lesson to other morons who ignore the rules at all times. no doubt the family will try to sue for millions, but they wont win, it was his choice to go to a restricted area, there is nothing six flags could have done.
If most of you have read other articles regarding this incident, you would have known where the boy's parents were and how they feel. The boy was not dropped off at Six Flags. The kid was old enough to drive himself there if he wanted to. He was there on a CHURCH trip. He parents were at the park. They received the phone call from a family member. Last statement from the family was they do not hold Six Flags responible but they were going to have an investigation. Bottom line the kid was where he didn't belong and something bad happened.
Concerned Parent needs to get off their high horse
In regards to what concerned parent said, These two young men were with a church group. Did you not read the news? It is very unfortanate that this happened. I was a teenager once too and made some bad decisions which turned out to be close calls but comman sense played in. They were probably wound up and excited with addrenaline and didn't even bother to read the signs which can be seen from the parking lot which also by the way was the area of the fense they were climbing. However, there's no grounds to sue on in this case like there is with the case at Six Flags in Kentucky where the little girl got her legs cut off on a tower ride by a cable that had broken. May God Bless you Asia and his family.
In regard to your statements from the other advise givers, it all still reflects on the parents and their lack of parenting. This child was stupid and irresponsible as are his parents. This is not the first thing this child has done in life that was stupid, it is just the last thing he was done in life that killed him, but just wait his family will sue, they will probably also be begging for money to pay for the cost of burying him...and some sapp will donate it, but not I, as I do not give out handouts to stupid people who cannot property raise their children..wake up and learn from this stupid mistakes.....or not.....