Woman killed after falling from roller coaster at Holiday World amusement park in Indiana

Monday, June 2nd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SANTA CLAUS, Ind. (AP) _ State inspectors found nothing wrong with a roller coaster where a passenger fell and died over the weekend, authorities said. The death Saturday night of Tamar Fellner, 32, of New York, was classified as an accident, according to a statement issued late Sunday by the Spencer County Sheriff's Department. Inspectors who went to the Holiday World amusement park found no mechanical problems on the ride, called the Raven, said Alden Taylor, a spokesman for the Indiana Department of Fire and Building Services. The investigation continued Monday. ``The park has an excellent safely record,'' Taylor said. ``They are very concerned about their patrons.'' William Koch, Holiday World president, said that the six-car train had 20 people aboard when it left the station and all were strapped in with a seat belt and bar restraint. Details of the death remained sketchy. Investigators said only that the woman fell from the ride. ``As soon as they came in, (Fellner's) fiance yelled that something very wrong had happened,'' Koch said. Fellner, who weighed about 100 pounds, had not unnecessarily put herself at risk, said Sean Flaharty, spokesman for American Coaster Enthusiasts. The group, to which Fellner belonged, was on an outing Saturday at Holiday World. The park was closed Sunday but reopened Monday. The Raven and another wooden roller coaster called the Legend remained closed. Taylor said an inspection of the Raven in April found that a grease fitting on one of the cars needed to be replaced. He called it a minor problem. ``It had nothing to do with this and had nothing to do with the safety of the ride,'' Taylor said. State records indicate the park has not had any serious accidents since at least 1988.