An amusement park employee fell to her death Saturday from a roller coaster catwalk.
Officials of the Elitch Gardens amusement park said the victim, Donna Reynolds, 45, was an operator of the Sidewinder coaster.
The accident took place about a half-hour before the park opened Saturday morning. Park officials said the operator had given the all-clear to start the coaster, but then stepped out of the operator’s booth into a restricted area.
“She leaned over like she was trying to pick something up,” said park spokeswoman Kristen Dorsey. “When the train was released she apparently stepped back,” falling 30 feet to the ground.
“We didn’t find anything she would have been reaching for,” Dorsey said.
The Sidewinder was closed as park officials investigated the accident, but the park opened on time.
