A 38-year-old Ohio man, Arntanaro Nelson, has sadly passed away after being struck by the Banshee roller coaster at Kings Island amusement park last week. Officials have determined his death to be a suspected accident, and an investigation is ongoing.
An amusement park guest who was hit by a high-speed roller coaster last week has died of his injuries, authorities say. Wilmington, Ohio, resident Arntanaro Nelson, 38, was struck by the Banshee roller coaster at the Kings Island amusement park in Mason on Wednesday, June 19.
The park is located around 25 miles northeast of Cincinnati. Nelson was found with a "critical injury" and was rushed to a hospital for treatment. Ohio officials announced on Monday that Nelson passed away on Friday, June 22.
Tragedy on the Tracks: Amusement Park Guest Dies After Being Struck by Roller Coaster
At the time of the incident, the Mason Police Department reported that the victim was in a restricted area of the park at the time of the accident. He was reportedly looking for his keys under the ride.
A thorough investigation is currently being conducted by authorities to determine the exact cause of the accident. The Banshee roller coaster was closed down after the incident but reopened on Saturday. Kings Island's website claims that Banshee is the world's longest steel inverted roller coaster.
Tragedy on the Tracks: Amusement Park Guest Dies After Being Struck by Roller Coaster
The Banshee roller coaster features the following succession of breath-taking thrills:
* A 167-foot lift hill
Tragedy on the Tracks: Amusement Park Guest Dies After Being Struck by Roller Coaster
* 150-foot curved first drop
* A dive loop
Tragedy on the Tracks: Amusement Park Guest Dies After Being Struck by Roller Coaster
* A vertical loop encircling the lift hill
* A zero-gravity roll
* A pair of batwing inversions
* Outside loop
* Spiral
* In-line roll and carousel
* Speeds up to 68 mph!
Kings Island has expressed its deepest condolences to the victim's family and has taken the necessary steps to ensure the safety of its guests. The park has implemented heightened safety measures and is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation.
Despite the tragic incident, Kings Island reopened on Saturday, June 23. The park continues to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for its guests while authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident.
The 364-acre park is located off Interstate 71 in Mason, Ohio, and is owned by Cedar Fair. Fox News Digital reached out to Kings Island for a statement but did not immediately hear back. The Associated Press and Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.
