WOMAN SEVERELY INJURED AFTER BEING EJECTED FROM ROLLER COASTER AND DRAGGED ALONG ITS TRACK

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Woman, 60, Severely Injured After Allegedly Being Ejected from Roller Coaster and Dragged Along Its Track: Reports

By Kimberlee Speakman  Published on August 28, 2026 09:50AM EDT

 

A woman remains hospitalized over a week after she was ejected from a roller coaster in Colorado.

 

On Monday, Aug. 17, Nicki Parker was allegedly thrown from her seat on the Rocky Mountain Coaster at Copper Mountain despite her fastened seatbelt, local news outlets Fox 31 Denver, Westword and Summit Daily reported, citing her attorney Trent Ongert with Bloch Ongert Injury Law.

 

Signs on the roller coaster state that if a seatbelt is disconnected, the coaster cart would stop and beep. However, Ongert alleges that didn’t happen, and 60-year-old Parker’s car continued moving.

 

“It was actually wrapped around her and pulled her, and she was dragged along the track as it went down,” said Ongert, per Fox 31 Denver.

 

Parker was allegedly dragged along the track for an estimated 20 to 30 seconds.

 

Ongert told Fox 31 Denver that her husband, who had been riding in the car behind her, witnessed the whole incident and attempted to help her.

 

“She was lying on the track. He then had to get her out because there was nobody, no way to get to her,” said Ongert. “They’re about 15 to 20 feet off the ground.”

 

Parker sustained a traumatic brain injury, a broken rib that punctured and collapsed her lung, a dislocated shoulder that required surgery and several lacerations all over her body, Westword reported, citing Bloch Ongert Injury Law.

 

Copper Mountain confirmed the incident in a statement to local outlets, saying, “On Monday, Aug. 17, Copper Mountain Patrol responded to an incident involving a guest on the Rocky Mountain Coaster. When members of patrol arrived, the guest was seated in the cart with their seatbelt fastened.”

 

Copper Mountain said on-site patrol assisted Parker back to the base area, and her care was transferred to Summit Fire & EMS. The resort said that the roller coaster has since closed.

 

“The Coaster is closed while Copper Mountain works with the state Division of Oil and Public Safety and the manufacturer to review the incident,” said Copper Mountain, adding, “Our thoughts are with the guest, and we wish them a speedy recovery.”

 

The Colorado’s Division of Oil and Public Safety (CDOPS) confirmed to Fox 31 Denver and Westword that the roller coaster remains closed amid their investigation.

 

The CDOPS has also informed the roller coaster’s manufacturer to create and publish a safety bulletin to be shared with all impacted operators, per Fox 31 Denver.

 

PEOPLE has contacted Ongert, Copper Mountain and the CDOPS for comment.