A teenager was decapitated by a roller coaster after he hopped a pair of fences and entered a restricted area at a Georgia amusement park, authorities says.
Saturday at Six Flags Over Georgia officials are uncertain why the unidentified 17-year-old from Columbia, South Carolina, scaled two 1.8-metre fences and passed signs that said the restricted area was both off-limits and dangerous to visitors, spokeswoman Hela Sheth said in a news release.
Authorities were investigating reports from witnesses who said the teenager jumped the fences to retrieve a hat he lost while riding the Batman roller coaster, said Cobb County police Sergeant Dana Pierce. Three security guards were keeping visitors away from the ride on Saturday.
Police said the ride was going full-speed when the teenager was struck. The ride's top speed is 80kph, according to the Six Flags website.
No one riding on the roller coaster was injured, Sheth said. The teenager's friend also entered the restricted area but was not injured, Pierce said.
The teenager and his parents were at the park with a group from the Oakey Spring Baptist Church near Springfield, South Carolina, police said.
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