Roller Coaster Kills Six Flags Employee

In a tragedy that struck just before the start of the summer tourist season, a Six Flags Magic Mountain employee in Valencia fell into the path of an oncoming roller coaster Thursday and was killed, authorities said.

Cherie LaMont, 25, of Valencia, died shortly after being struck by the cars of the Revolution roller coaster about 3 p.m., park spokesman Palmer Moody said. The cars were loaded with passengers, but no one else was injured.

LaMont stepped onto the tracks just as the train barreled back into the loading area where passengers get on and off, park representatives said. She was thrown from the tracks into a cramped pit below, where paramedics found her dead of massive injuries, said Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Al Schriver.

“We do not know why the employee was on the tracks. We are looking into the situation thoroughly and will talk to as many people as we can to ascertain the circumstances,” the amusement park said in a brief statement.

A Cal/OSHA investigator was dispatched to the scene to interview witnesses and inspect equipment. Sheriff’s detectives were also sent as a matter of routine.

The accident occurred just as the park, one of eight Six Flags theme parks nationwide, began gearing up for the influx of summer visitors.