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Woman Awarded $3.6M After Being Injured On Roller Coaster
UPDATED: 8:24 am EST March 5,
2006
RAVENNA, Ohio -- A jury awarded a woman $3.6 million Friday after she was injured on a roller coaster at a local amusement park. The accident happened six years ago at the former Six Flags Worlds of Adventure. Terry Wang, 44, of the Milwaukee area, was hit by either a rock or a cell phone while on the Villain roller coaster, NewsChannel5 reported.The impact fractured her skull and broke her nose in July 2000. Wang's arms were raised and her eyes closed when she was hit by an item as the coaster went down a hill at 60 mph. Doctors removed a piece of her skull to relieve pressure on the brain and removed bits of bone from the brain. She still has headaches and numbness in her face and needs reconstructive surgery on her forehead.Testimony revealed park officials had been warned about people throwing rocks at various rides. Rocks were on the ground below the Villain near a walkway. Some were found on the ride's catwalk and track.However, a park attorney believes Wang was hit by a phone. Wang cried Friday following the verdict in Portage County Common Pleas Court and thanked the jurors who found Six Flags Inc. negligent, said her attorney, Daniel Volkema. The jury award includes $1.1 million for her medical and other expenses and $2.5 million in punitive damages. Volkema said Six Flags had offered $200,000 to settle the lawsuit. Premier Parks Inc. of Oklahoma City bought the former Geauga Lake Park in 1995 and gave it the Six Flags name in 1999. Premier Parks became Six Flags Inc. in 2000. The park was sold to Cedar Fair LP in 2004 and renamed Geauga Lake.
Copyright 2006 by NewsNet5. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.










