US News
Texas woman seriously injured after reported ejection from Colorado alpine coaster
State officials are investigating an August 17 incident at Copper Mountain Resort that left a 60-year-old rider hospitalized.
The short version
- A 60-year-old Texas woman suffered severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and broken rib, after reportedly being thrown from her seat and dragged on an alpine coaster at Copper Mountain Resort.
- State regulators have temporarily closed the ride and a similar coaster at another resort while conducting a safety investigation.
- The coaster manufacturer was instructed to issue a safety bulletin to operators, and official documentation will remain confidential until the state completes its review.
Key facts
- Nicki Parker, 60, sustained a broken rib, collapsed lung, dislocated shoulder, and traumatic brain injury following an August 17, 2026 incident on the Rocky Mountain Coaster in Colorado.[Fox News]
- Parker's attorney stated that she was dragged along the track for 20 to 30 seconds while remaining strapped into her seat belt until her husband helped remove her.[Fox News]
- Colorado's Division of Oil and Public Safety confirmed it is investigating the injury and that the Rocky Mountain Coaster has been shut down.[Fox News]
- State authorities mandated that the ride's manufacturer draft and distribute a safety bulletin to affected ride operators.[Fox News]
- A comparable coaster at Purgatory Resort was also closed pending the outcome of the state's inquiry.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- The precise cause of the seat ejection and equipment malfunction remains under state investigation.[Fox News]