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Yes. Seatbelts are usually included as an extra failsafe in case the lapbars pop up. Not sure if Gerstlauer provided SFOT/Fiesta Texas with seatbelts on their lapbars, but in this case they apparently didn't.
 
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netdvn said:
Yes. Seatbelts are usually included as an extra failsafe in case the lapbars pop up. Not sure if Gerstlauer provided SFOT/Fiesta Texas with seatbelts on their lapbars, but in this case they apparently didn't.

Or it did not fit and was overlooked.
 
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According to reports NTG will be reopening this weekend with new lapbars and seatbelts as a redundancy check. I also imagine the restricted rider envelope (how large people can be to ride) will be in place and enforced like it has with Iron Rattler and Outlaw Run.
 
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Just came across this report:

'Texas Giant' Builder Blames Six Flags in Death

The article is here.

The German manufacturer of the Texas Giant at Six Flags over Texas is blasting the amusement park.

In a cross-complaint filed in the case involving the death of a Dallas woman, Gerstlauer Amusement Rides said the park is solely to blame for the accident.

On July 19th, Rosy Esparza got on the Texas Giant and soon after plummeted to her death.

In the new court document, Gerstlauer said, "Six Flags failed to exercise reasonable care in their hiring, training and supervision of the ride operators... on the date of the accident."

Specifically adding, “…by not activating the Emergency Stop button at their fingertips when a Six Flags employee observed... Esparza's lap bar was 'too high' as the train left…"

Attorney Frank Branson, representing the Esparza family, said interviews with employees show that one of the workers operating the ride “had a button that could have stopped and should have stopped the ride,” but that button was not pressed.

The German maker also said Six Flags had a hand in designing the ride. Six Flags has blamed the death on a dangerous, defective ride.

Gerstlauer Amusement Rides said the park “expressly designed and specified in writing that there be no seat belts.”

Soon after the accident, seat belts were added, and there was a test seat put out, so people could see if they could safely get on the ride. Gerstlauer Amusement Rides said that seat was provided for the park two years prior to the accident, but never used.

Six Flags over Texas responded to the countersuit.

“The manufacturer assured Six Flags that the Texas Giant, without seat belts, was safe for riders. As an additional safety measure, when the ride re-opened in September, we added incremental and overlapping safety measures including re-designed restraint bar pads and new seat belts. The safety of our guests is our number one priority,” said Six Flags over Texas spokesperson Sharon Parker.

— NBC Dallas-Fort Worth
 
Not gonna lie, I'm calling massive BS on Gerstlauer's seatbelt claim. Gerstlauer has happily built many a ride with only lapbars- a good number of which invert. They may have a defense with the employee testimony but that seatbelt stuff is blatent nonsense and Gerstlauer is only hurting the industry by bringing it up.
 
Nic said:
I see gratuitous seatbelts being added everywhere...

I see a lot of unnecessary seat belts on many Intamins and some woodies, but never a Gerstlauer.  I have to agree with Zach here.  In fact, I have to call BS on a lot of this report of theirs.


Specifically adding, “…by not activating the Emergency Stop button at their fingertips when a Six Flags employee observed... Esparza's lap bar was 'too high' as the train left…"

This is not the fault of any employees or Six Flags, and it's really terrible that the manufacturer is trying to blame them.  If a restraint is not in the proper locked position in the station, it should never be able to leave.  The manufacturer is to blame for the lack of a safety backup.  Any other ride's computer would not let that train be sent.  If I was working that ride and even thought that the restraint looked possibly a bit off, I'd assume it was fine because the computer let it be sent.  It's a little hard to tell just visually; people's sizes and other factors cause those restraints to always look different and often look not locked enough, even if they are.
 
On a B&M I see the computer refusing to dispatch trains that in any ride operators opinion would appear to be very snug and secure restraints so I am in agreement with you there Franco.
 
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