Teenager Struck and Killed by Six Flags Rollercoaster
June 30th, 2008
A South Carolina teenager died this weekend after he was struck and killed by a rollercoaster in Georgia’s Six Flags Amusement Park, reports The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Asia Leeshawn Ferguson, age 17, a
nd a friend scaled two fences that surrounded the Batman ride as a short cut to get back into the park Saturday afternoon, police said. Ferguson was decapitated and died instantly when the coaster hit him. Both fences, police say, were marked with warning signs, one saying “restricted area” for “authorized personnel only” and other saying “Danger zone” and “Do not enter.” “The area’s clearly defined with signs. It’s very tragic that these individuals would decide to jump over the fence. It would be hard to imagine somebody not seeing the signs and jumping two fences,” Sgt. Dana Pierce, a Cobb County Police spokesman, told reporters. The Batman Ride travels up to 50 m.p.h. Ferguson, whose family was in the park when the tragedy occurred, was in Georgia on a church trip, reports the newspaper. No one who was actually on the ride was injured in the incident. Afterward, the ride was closed to the public. It was scheduled to reopen today. This is the second fatality at the same park and on the same ride. In 2002, 58-year-old Samuel Milton Guyton was killed when he was kicked in the head by a teen girl on the Batman ride.
Maybe me being in afghanistan right now knowing it could cost me my life too & others as well. But im aware. How is it heartless for me to say he was ignorant? If anything your twin-sided cause I bet your 1 of the MANY individuals that talk about people being real and honest and etc.
First let me start by saying I’m sorry to the Ferguson family for this great loss. To those that have left comments thanks for the words of encouragement. Some people never know what God has planned for anybody. There is a time and a purpose under the sun for everything.
I was in line on Saturday and witnessed the entire thing. When you actually see something like that and can’t or do anything it destroys you. It happened just like a movie. Me and others were debating on jumping the fences to help him or risk our lives to help another. That is the hardest decision I have ever had to make. Nobody in line knew he had been decapitated the way his body landed to us it appeared he was face down in the gravel. I haven’t been able to rest because of it and this is something that I will never forget. To use that were standing in line it appeared that he was cutting across the tracks, but investigators are saying he was going to retrieve his hat either way the story he was killed due to poor decisions.
I ask that you all pray for the family and for those of us that had to witness this and think about the children that were standing in line with us and what kind of memories they are going to have from this.
MY FAMILY KNOWS ME TO KNOW BETTER THAN THAT..SAME COMMON SENSE AS WHAT “deez” SAID. AND HE WAS WITH OTHER PEOPLE RIGHT…FRIENDS. WELL IF THEY CARED FOR HIM THEY WOULDVE SAID DUDE WAIT THIS DOESNT FEEL SAFE. MISTAKE…YEH I MADE THEM..BUT THIS 1 NO..MY YOUNGER FAM KNOWS BETTER TOO. CHOICE AND CONSEQUENCE
JUST NOW KNOW COMMON SENSE IS A UNCOMMON VIRTUE…
WHAT IF IT WAS A FREEWAY? AND HIS BALL WENT ON THE FREEWAY..SAME SCENARIO…WOULD YALL STILL clame it like aww poor kid and mistake…or QUESTION YOURSELF AND THEN QUESTION THE PARENTING. hes 17!!
my heart goes out to his family
From what I heard, I heard this guy was gettign chased by the police!!! Did anybody else here of that?
To all you people who are saying black people can’t read I find it mighty funny that in all of your comments there are misspelled words
My prayers go out to the family and members of the church. He will be in a better place, i do have to agree with Batman “heed the sign”. But alos what this joey person wrote was not “nice”.
As for the rest of you racist nobodies do you not understand that BET stands for BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION. Most of you are obviously not black so I don’t even know why you are on this site anyways let alone making ignorant comments.
First let me start by saying I’m sorry to the Ferguson family for this great loss. To those that have left comments thanks for the words of encouragement. Some people never know what God has planned for anybody. There is a time and a purpose under the sun for everything.
I was in line on Saturday and witnessed the entire thing. When you actually see something like that and can’t do anything it destroys you. It happened just like a movie. Me and others were debating on jumping the fences to help him or risk our lives to help another. That is the hardest decision I have ever had to make. Nobody in line knew he had been decapitated the way his body landed to us it appeared he was face down in the gravel. I haven’t been able to rest because of it and this is something that I will never forget. To us that were standing in line it appeared that he was cutting across the tracks, but investigators are saying he was going to retrieve his hat either way the story he was killed due to poor decisions.
I ask that you all pray for the family and for those of us that had to witness this and think about the children that were standing in line with us and what kind of memories they are going to have from this.
To Rake or whatever your real name may be. DON’T ASK ME ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT YOU HAVE NEVER WITNESS SOMETHING LIKE THIS FIRST HAND YOU SHOULDN’T BE ON HERE JOKING ABOUT IT. LIKE I SAID NOBODY KNEW HE HAD BEEN DECAPITATED BECAUSE THE WAY THE BODY LANDED. Don’t refer to me anymore if you didn’t get it when I typed what I witnessed then don’t refer to me at all.
R.I.P Asia Ferguson
To everyone flinging the word “ignorant” around: The definition of ignorance is not calling a stupid mistake out. In fact, the boy was ignorant of the warnings that he could… y’know… die.
Rake- You are so inconsiderate and immature you must not have a life because you are leaving these stupid comments. SERIOUSLY GROW UP AND GET A LIFE!
I’m sorry for the way that your parents have raised you must have not been loved enough. I bet you pulled out your razor and start slitting.
Ignorant means lacking in knowledge or training the boy might have been ignorant but so are mostly everyone else making comments judging by the comments they are making they have no home training.
Sharryn I disagree. I do believe that I am “home trained.”
‘Home training’?! WTF?!
Wow whoever took my name that was very creative I guess i hit a nerve in some of you people to reply in such a personal way. Don’t try to make this about me, I know its hard but its about Asia.
It’s a tragic situation and my best wishes go out to the family and friends.
But they have no right to sue over something like this, there were warning signs that were ignored. Thousands of pounds of metal racing around at 50 mph or more is obviously dangerous.
WOW you people are so hateful lets go back to the history books
What’s even more sad than the actual incident is the parents wanting to sue the amusement park. The child did not hop one fence, but two, both of which had signs posted. The family must feel awful but your son should have known better. The park should not be held accountable in any way whatsoever!