Improper Check of Seat Belt on Ride Is Alleged

The daughter of a woman who died after falling from a flume ride at Knott’s Berry Farm told police immediately after the accident that attendants did not adequately check the seat belts, according to Buena Park police reports released Wednesday.

Lori Mason-Larez, 40, of Duarte died Friday night after she apparently slipped from both a seat belt and lap bar as the boat she was in on the Perilous Plunge water ride dropped 115 feet at up to 50 mph. When the boat returned to the loading area, both restraints were locked in position, Knott’s officials said.

But in the police report, Mason-Larez’s daughter said that before the ride started, she realized that the attendant had not checked the seat belts of all the passengers. The girl was sitting in front of her mother and did not directly witness the fall.

Ride operators told police that they visually check all passengers to make sure they are securely fastened. Both operators followed procedure by giving a thumbs-up sign before the boat was allowed to leave, according to the police report.

“Our employees have assured us that they followed the procedures, and we completely stand behind them,” park spokeswoman Susan Tierney said.

Investigators with the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health as well as Knott’s officials said they are considering whether Mason-Larez’s size may have been a factor in the accident. Reports from the Orange County Fire Authority say Mason-Larez weighed about 330 pounds.

The ride is equipped with two restraints--a seat belt and a T-shaped lap bar. Ed Pribonic, an independent ride engineer and ride inspector, has said he could not draw any conclusions without further study, but speculated that the lap bar might not be able to reach its most efficient position when a very large or round-shaped person is beneath it.

He said the body’s center of gravity could then shift, throwing someone loose. He also said Mason-Larez might have fastened the seat belt below her stomach, leaving her center of gravity above the belt.

The family has retained Los Angeles attorney Marc S. Feldman, but he said Wednesday that it would be premature to offer any opinions until he makes a comprehensive evaluation. He plans to make a statement in the next week or so.

Mason-Larez was pronounced dead minutes after the accident. She suffered blunt force injuries, including a nearly severed right leg.