A man died Thursday after being hit by a roller coaster at Cedar Point, an amusement park in Ohio.
The man had hopped a fence into a restricted area at the Sandusky amusement park in an attempt to retrieve a cellphone that had fallen below the Raptor roller coaster before he was struck, according to Erie County Coroner Dr. Brian Baxter.
“He apparently jumped over the fence and then when he stood up he was hit by the Raptor, that’s what we think,” Baxter said.
When asked about the possibility of a suicide attempt, Baxter said, “No, not at all. From what we saw we have no reason to believe it was anything but accidental.”
After waiting until the victim’s family was notified of the accident, police identified the man as 45-year-old James A. Young, of East Canton, Ohio, NBC 5's affiliate station WKYC reports. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Baxter said the investigation into the incident is ongoing. The Coroner’s Office is working with park officials and the Sandusky Police Department to review surveillance footage of the accident.
The Raptor reaches speeds up to 57 mph, according to the theme park’s website.
U.S. & World
Cedar Point officials released the following statement after the man's passing:
"At approximately 5 p.m., a guest entered a restricted, fenced area of the Raptor roller coaster and was struck by the ride. Park safety officials responded immediately to the situation. Unfortunately the guest has passed away. Local authorities are on the scene conducting an investigation ... Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time."
