The Texas roller coaster from which a woman fell to her death last week won't reopen until the Texas Department of Insurance slaps a compliance sticker on it once again.
TDI has is the state administrator of the Amusement Ride Safety Inspection and Insurance Act. Every amusement park ride owner or operator must possess at least $1 million in bodily injury insurance (per occurrence) and the ride has to be inspected by a qualified engineer, says Jerry Hagins, TDI spokesman. Satisfaction of these requirements earns the ride a sticker, similar to a car inspection sticker, with a date for its next scheduled inspection.
“This ride will be shut down until it is re-inspected by an engineer retained by the insurer and it's proven to be safe to start it again,” Hagins says. The manufacturer is also sending investigators, he adds.
An investigation continues into the death of a Dallas woman, who on July 19 fell to her death from the Texas Giant roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington.
Hagins say Six Flags was “fully in compliance” with state requirements. “Every year, every ride gets inspected,” he adds.
TDI keeps records of insurance policies, inspection certificates, injury reports and quarterly government action reports by the ride owner and/or operator. Other than theme park rides, carnival rides and water park rides fall under the oversight of TDI, as do go-karts, rock-climbing walls, bungee jumps, zip lines, mechanical bulls and inflatables.
Local, county or state officials can inspect without notice and demand a copy of insurance, inspection certificate and daily self-inspection log, according to the TDI website.
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