Mom killed in fall from Texas Six Flags roller coaster ID’d

A mother who fell to her death from the towering Texas Giant roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas on Friday night has been identified.

Rosy Esparza was on the ride with family members when she fell out of her seat, according to WFAA. 

It was her first visit to the popular theme park.

Park goers described how Esparza "basically tumbled over" and disappeared, possibly when the coaster made a sharp turn, reports the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Two witnesses, John and Darlene Putman, told the Star-Telegram that they were waiting in line for the ride when a man and woman in their 20s got out.

"They were screaming, 'My mom! My mom! Let us out, we need to go get her!'" John Putman said.

Witnesses say the couple appeared to be the victim's daughter and son-in-law.

Authorities in North Texas have opened an investigation into Esparza's fatal plunge.

Attention is turning to whether or not she was properly restrained in the seat before the ride started clacking up the steep 153 foot hill.

Carmen Brown of Arlington was waiting in line while Esparza was being secured into the ride.

"They didn't secure her right," she told the Dallas Morning News. "One of the employees from the park — one of the ladies — she asked her to click her more than once, and they were like, 'As long you heard it click, you're OK,'" she said.

"Everybody else is like, 'Click, click, click.' Hers only clicked once. Hers was the only one that went down once, and she didn't feel safe, but they let her still get on the ride," Brown told the newspaper.

Brown described how the victim fell out of her seat as the ride made a sharp turn.  "We heard her screaming. We were, like, ‘Did she just fall?'"

Six Flags released another short statement on Saturday confirming that the ride was still closed.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. The investigation into the death at Texas Giant is still ongoing. We are working closely with authorities to determine the cause of the accident. The ride will remain closed. In addition, we have canceled the concert that was scheduled for today."

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