Six Flags death to be investigated by German coaster builder

A German roller coaster manufacturer will send representatives to join the investigation into what caused a woman to fall to her death from the Texas Giant roller coaster Friday at a Six Flags in Arlington, Texas.

Six Flags will lead an internal investigation into the incident, which Arlington police said would not be treated as a criminal case. Representatives from Gerstlauer Amusement Rides, which manufactured the cars on the Texas Giant, would arrive in Arlington this week.

Officials from the theme park said "it would be a disservice to the family" of Rosy Esparza to speculate on what caused the Dallas woman to fall out of her restraint on the roller coaster. But witnesses said Esparza was concerned about her safety restraint as she boarded the ride.

"She was nervous and panicking," said Cameron Brown, a witness who said a ride operator assured her the restraint was fine. Brown expressed concerns over the number of times the safety bar clicked, but Gerstlauer project manager said there would not have been a clicking sound.

At this time I don’t want to speak about the technicals,” said Tobias Lindnar, project manager for Gerstlauer. “It’s not so easy. It’s some special equipment.”

Lindnar said the company had never had problems with the safety bars in the 50-some coasters it has build throughout the world.

“We have to investigate what has happened there,” he said. “I’m sure there’s no safety bar that is broken.”