Young apparently had lost his cell phone and jumped over a fence to retrieve it and was struck from behind by the coaster.
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A man died after entering a restricted, fenced area near a roller coaster at Cedar Point amusement park. “He went there every summer with his friends”.
Shane says he and his girlfriend saw the gruesome scene 20 seconds into the ride. Authorities did not confirm whether Young was hit by the coaster itself or one of the riders on it as the coaster passed through.
The Raptor is a so-called inverted coaster, with trains that hang from an overhead track.
The victim, identified as James A. Young, had moved out of the area after finishing his ride, when he noticed that his phone was missing. “I was trembling and she started freaking out”.
Cedar Point, which is the second oldest amusement park in operation according to its website, has attracted over one million people per year. Cedar Point tweeted that their “thoughts and prayers” are with the patrons family.
Justin Wm. Moyer of The Washington Post is reporting that Young was a teacher who had just received a job as a high school guidance counselor.
Park officials and police believe the man was looking for personal items he may have dropped while riding the roller coaster himself.
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Sandusky Police and the county’s coroner are investigating the death. No other park guests were injured, according to Sandusky police.
