WOMAN, 60, ALLEGEDLY EJECTED FROM COLORADO ROLLER COASTER AND DRAGGED ALONG TRACK FOR 20 SECONDS

A 60-year-old woman was seriously injured after she was allegedly ejected from a roller coaster at a Colorado mountain resort — and reportedly dragged along the track for up to 30 seconds before the ride came to a stop.

The shocking incident happened on Aug. 17 at Copper Mountain, where Nicki Parker was riding the Rocky Mountain Coaster with her husband.

According to her attorney, Parker’s seatbelt was fastened when she was allegedly thrown from her cart.

Instead of stopping, the coaster reportedly continued moving.

Her attorney claims Parker was then dragged along the track as the ride descended.

The incident has now triggered a state investigation, while the attraction remains closed.

“SHE WAS DRAGGED ALONG THE TRACK”

Parker’s attorney, Trent Ongert, described a terrifying sequence of events to local news outlets.

According to his account, Parker’s seatbelt somehow became disconnected or failed to keep her securely inside the cart.

The coaster allegedly did not produce the warning sound or automatically stop as signs on the ride indicate it should when a seatbelt becomes disconnected.

Instead, Parker’s cart continued moving.

Ongert said she was reportedly dragged along the track for approximately 20 to 30 seconds.

The ride’s elevated track made the situation even more dangerous.

Parker was reportedly around 15 to 20 feet above the ground when the incident occurred.

HER HUSBAND WATCHED IT HAPPEN

Perhaps one of the most disturbing details is that Parker’s husband was riding in the cart immediately behind her.

He reportedly witnessed the incident and attempted to help his wife after she was thrown from the cart.

According to her attorney, he eventually reached Parker and helped get her to safety before emergency responders arrived.

The experience left the family facing not only the shock of what had happened but also the uncertainty of how serious Parker’s injuries would be.

PARKER SUFFERED MULTIPLE SERIOUS INJURIES

According to reports cited by PEOPLE, Parker suffered several significant injuries.

They reportedly include:

• A traumatic brain injury
• A broken rib that punctured and collapsed her lung
• A dislocated shoulder requiring surgery
• Multiple lacerations across her body

She remained hospitalized more than a week after the Aug. 17 incident.

Her injuries have turned what was supposed to be a mountain vacation experience into a medical ordeal.

COPPER MOUNTAIN GIVES A DIFFERENT ACCOUNT OF THE SCENE

Copper Mountain has confirmed that an incident occurred involving a guest on the Rocky Mountain Coaster.

But the resort’s statement does not establish that Parker was ejected from the ride in the manner alleged by her attorney.

When patrol personnel arrived, the resort said Parker was found in the cart with her seatbelt fastened.

Patrol members assisted her back toward the base area before her care was transferred to Summit Fire & EMS.

That detail is now likely to be significant as investigators attempt to reconstruct exactly what happened.

THE RIDE HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN

Copper Mountain has closed the Rocky Mountain Coaster while the incident is investigated.

The resort said it is working with the Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety and the ride’s manufacturer to review what happened.

The state agency has confirmed that its investigation is underway.

Officials have also instructed the coaster’s manufacturer to issue a safety bulletin to other operators, according to reports.

That could mean investigators are examining whether the incident raises broader safety questions beyond this single attraction.

THE SEATBELT QUESTION COULD BE CRITICAL

One of the central issues will be determining exactly what happened to Parker’s restraint.

The attraction reportedly displays warnings indicating that a disconnected seatbelt should trigger both an audible warning and an automatic stop.

Parker’s attorney alleges that neither occurred.

But Copper Mountain’s account says patrol personnel found Parker in the cart with the seatbelt fastened when they arrived.

Those two details raise a series of questions.

Did the restraint malfunction?

Did it become disconnected during the ride?

Was it still fastened when emergency personnel reached Parker?

And, most importantly, why did the coaster allegedly continue moving if a safety system had been triggered?

Investigators will now have to determine what actually happened.

A RIDE DESIGNED FOR THE MOUNTAINS

The Rocky Mountain Coaster is located at Copper Mountain and is designed to take riders through a mountain setting on an elevated track.

For visitors, the attraction is marketed as an adventurous experience.

But after Parker’s injuries, the ride has become the focus of a safety investigation.

The closure means investigators will have an opportunity to inspect the attraction and examine its restraint and emergency systems.

NO FINAL CAUSE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED

At this stage, officials have not publicly announced a final determination about what caused Parker to leave the cart or whether a mechanical failure occurred.

The allegations made by Parker’s attorney are part of the ongoing investigation and have not been established as fact.

Copper Mountain has expressed sympathy for Parker and said its thoughts are with her as she recovers.

The resort has also indicated that it is cooperating with state officials and the manufacturer.

A TERRIFYING RIDE THAT LASTED SECONDS — BUT LEFT A LIFELONG IMPACT

For Parker and her family, the investigation is about more than determining what went wrong.

It is about understanding how a routine amusement-park ride allegedly turned into a terrifying medical emergency.

A woman went onto the coaster expecting an afternoon of recreation.

Instead, she reportedly suffered a traumatic brain injury, a collapsed lung, a serious shoulder injury and multiple wounds.

Her husband witnessed the incident from the cart behind her and attempted to reach her.

Now the attraction is closed, investigators are examining the safety systems, and officials are working to determine exactly how Parker ended up outside the cart.

Was it a restraint failure, a mechanical problem, or something else entirely?

The investigation is expected to provide the answers.

Until then, the Rocky Mountain Coaster remains closed — and one family’s vacation has become the center of a major safety investigation.