Knott’s Coaster Stays Closed After Death

The Montezooma’s Revenge roller coaster at Knott’s Berry Farm has been shut down while the county coroner and state safety officials investigate the death of a 25-year-old Corona woman following a ride on the attraction Friday night.

Gafudji Mekanisi appeared to suffer a seizure on the ride about 7 p.m., according to park officials. Park medical technicians and Orange County fire officials treated her at the ride’s loading dock and took her to West Anaheim Medical Center. She was transferred to Western Medical Center--Santa Ana, where she died early Saturday morning.

The Orange County coroner’s office had not determined the cause of death as of Sunday night.

Officials with the state Department of Occupational Safety and Health inspected the ride Saturday but had not released their findings Sunday.

“The ride will remain closed until they are done inspecting their data,” said Jack Falfas, general manager of West Coast operations at Knott’s Berry Farm.

The ride, which accelerates to 60 mph in three seconds and zips around loops seven stories high, opened in 1978. Nearly 44.5 million people have ridden it, park spokeswoman Susan Tierney said. She said she knew of no fatalities linked to the roller coaster in its 23-year history.

In July, a 42-year-old woman died after riding a spinning attraction at Six Flags Marine World in Vallejo, Calif. State authorities are investigating the death of the woman, who suffered bleeding in the brain.

It was the second fatality involving a brain injury at a Six Flags theme park in California this summer, raising concerns that the link between brain injuries and thrill rides might need further study. In June, 28-year-old Pearl Santos of Fontana died after riding the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia. An autopsy revealed the woman suffered from hypertension-related heart disease and had a brain aneurysm that ruptured.

A national research firm, the Brain Injury Assn., is studying the possible link between brain injuries and thrill rides. The nonprofit group intends to examine between 30 to 50 cases in which amusement-park patrons reportedly suffered brain injuries after riding a roller coaster or other attraction.

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Staff writer Dave McKibben contributed to this report.