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A California man on Tuesday filed a personal injury lawsuit stemming from an April 2022 incident in which he alleges he and others were “locked in their seats” on the Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast ride at Arlington’s Six Flags Over Texas after an electrical malfunction caused a fire.
The suit was filed in Tarrant County on behalf of Connor Spitzig against the theme park and Arlington-based Six Flags Entertainment Corporation.
Spitzig seeks a jury trial and at least $1 million in damages. Attorneys at Texas-based LOAR PLLC are representing Spitzig.
On April 10, 2022, Spitzig and 11 other people were trapped on the roller coaster causing them to suffer injuries and “extreme trauma,” the lawsuit says.
The Mr. Freeze ride launches passengers at 70 mph, going both forward and backward on the track before entering a dark tunnel ahead of the exit.
While Spitzig was riding, the rollercoaster came to a stop in the tunnel as the ride malfunctioned, and “there was nothing the riders could do,” the suit says. Seat restraints remained locked, leaving riders unable to get out as smoke began filling the tunnel.
The lawsuit references a 911 call between a woman on the ride and a dispatcher while the riders were in the tunnel. The call lasted about 10 minutes, the lawsuit states.
The length of the call reflects the failure of employees to help riders in a timely manner, exacerbating their injuries and trauma, the lawsuit argues.
Riders eventually were helped off the ride, and Spitzig was among seven people taken to the hospital for injuries including smoke inhalation, the lawsuit says.
A Six Flags spokesperson at the time told that all guests and employees exited the ride “in minutes” and that employees put out the fire using portable extinguishers before firefighters arrived.
The lawsuit also alleges Six Flags “failed to properly inspect, repair and maintain” the ride before the incident occurred, which “created an unreasonably dangerous condition.” An incident report from Arlington Fire Department cited in the lawsuit says the fire was caused by an overheated motor.
A Six Flags Entertainment Corporation spokesperson declined to comment Tuesday, referencing pending litigation.