Investigation Underway After Roller Coaster Incident Leaves Rider Injured in Colorado

A 60-year-old woman sustained serious injuries, including a broken rib, collapsed lung, traumatic brain injury, and dislocated shoulder requiring surgery, after being allegedly ejected from her seat on the Rocky Mountain Coaster at Copper Mountain Resort in Colorado. Nicki Parker, from Texas, was reportedly thrown from her seat and dragged for 20 to 30 seconds while still strapped in, according to her attorney, Trent Ongert. Ongert stated that Parker's husband, who was riding behind her, attempted to assist her after she fell onto the track, which is approximately 15 to 20 feet above the ground. Parker remains hospitalized as of the latest reports. Colorado’s Division of Oil and Public Safety’s Amusement Rides and Devices Program is conducting an investigation into the incident that occurred on August 17, 2026. The agency confirmed that the Rocky Mountain Coaster is closed during the investigation, and the manufacturer has been instructed to issue a safety bulletin to all affected operators. A similar ride at Purgatory Resort is also closed pending the investigation's outcome. The roller coaster, which is 5,800 feet long, is noted as the second longest alpine coaster in North America. The resort expressed its concern for Parker's recovery in a press release.