Officials in the state of Georgia ordered a popular roller coaster that hit and killed a teenager over the weekend to remain closed Monday.
Asia LeeShawn Ferguson IV died Saturday at the Six Flags Over Georgia amusement park after police said he hopped two fences and wandered into a restricted area where he was decapitated by the Batman roller coaster. Police said an autopsy determined the teen's death was an accident. Toxicology tests could take several weeks.
Park officials had expected to reopen the ride Monday, but the Georgia Department of Labor took it out of service while inspectors conduct a preliminary investigation that could take several days, spokesman Charlie Schroder said. The agency is responsible for inspecting amusement park rides.
The park had closed the ride out of respect for Ferguson's family. No one else was hurt.
Police said Monday that they have ruled out reports from witnesses who said Ferguson jumped the fences to retrieve a hat he lost while riding the coaster. All authorities know is that the teen hopped the fences to take the shortest route to the Batman ride from where he was, said Cobb County police Sgt. Dana Pierce. Another boy who was with him was not injured.
A park spokeswoman said Ferguson scaled two 6-foot fences and passed signs that said the restricted area was both off-limits and dangerous.