Victim opened belt, stood on coaster (STUPID ALERT)

NY Daily News ^ | June 4, 2003 | By AUSTIN FENNER and BILL HUTCHINSON

[WellsFargo94]

The Manhattan woman thrown to her death from an Indiana roller coaster had unbuckled her seat belt and was "virtually standing up" as the thrill ride careened along at 60 mph, authorities said yesterday. The stunning revelation came as 1,500 relatives and friends attended funeral services for Tamar Fellner, 32, who had earned a Harvard M.B.A. and ran her own business.

Spencer County Prosecutor Jon Dartt said witnesses at the Holiday World & Splashin' Safari park saw Fellner unlatch her seat belt and get up in a bid to get what roller-coaster enthusiasts call air time.

She made the fatal mistake of trying the daredevil move Saturday night on The Raven - one of the world's most terrifying roller coasters, he said.

Fellner, who weighed 100 pounds, was ejected from the car she shared with her fiancé, Robert Weitzner, and plunged 69 feet to her death.

"Witnesses state that near the time of the accident, an individual matching the description of Ms. Fellner was seen in the last car of the roller coaster virtually standing up while the ride was in progress," said Dartt, adding that he was awaiting the results of toxicology tests.

Fellner was a member of American Coaster Enthusiasts, a group of thrill seekers who met over the weekend at the park for the annual Stark Raven Mad Event.

Safety warning

Holiday World spokeswoman Paula Werne said the group had been warned not to tamper with the safety equipment during the 100-second ride.

At a welcoming ceremony the night before the accident, Werne went over the rules, she said.

"I specifically said, 'Leave your seat belt buckled; don't mess with our safety equipment. We're here to have fun,'" Werne told the Daily News yesterday. "We said it, we put it in writing. But yet what you prayed not to happen, unfortunately happened."

Sean Flaharty, a spokesman for American Coaster Enthusiasts, said he was shocked that someone in his group would be so careless. "In my opinion, the ride is thrilling enough," said Flaharty, who rode The Raven moments before the accident.

As The Raven remained shut yesterday, 1,500 people filled Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston, N.J., for Fellner's funeral.

"She was spirited and intelligent," said Arianna Patterson, a member of the temple where Felner's father, Azriel Fellner, is the rabbi. "She was always trying to better herself and help people. Her death makes no sense."

With Chelsea Phua

[TomServo]

"She was spirited and intelligent," said Arianna Patterson, a member of the temple where Felner's father, Azriel Fellner, is the rabbi. "She was always trying to better herself and help people. Her death makes no sense."

What a pant-load.

[Hatteras]

I just love headlines. Here I am thinking someone took their belt off and stood on a coaster... How in the heck does someone die while standing on a coaster while their pants are falling down?

Unless, of course, they slipped on the water ring and fell off the table... Hmmmm....

[Old Professer]

But, in the aforementioned case, not to multiply.

[VadeRetro]

Spencer County Prosecutor Jon Dartt said witnesses at the Holiday World & Splashin' Safari park saw Fellner unlatch her seat belt and get up in a bid to get what roller-coaster enthusiasts call air time.

You have to be careful what you wish for.

[TomServo]

Thanks for giving my wife the best laugh she's had in about a month. You are truly the, "hero for the day!".

[Thumper1960]

Nope....it was:

"Hold my Manichewitz and watch this!"

[MissL]

I have a Harvard M.B.A. friend...that is one of his accomplishments on the way to a PhD or two but the sad part of the story is that all of the "intelligence" one might think that this man has does not over come his TOTAL lack of social skills. Social skills = ZERO. He can hug a tree but speaking to another is impossible....he will mountain climb and sky dive and raft the impossible but to have a "real" conversation is not a possiblity. I suspect this girl was the same...wanting a thrill, attention and to relate in some way but she had to be the best. You are correct another version of "Hold my beer....WATCH THIS !!!", usually that is just ditch jumpin'.

[TC Rider]

Exactly

[.38sw]

She got some air time, all right. Including a bit of freefall. I hope she enjoyed it.

[CARepubGal]

Darwin award winner Ping! :)

[joesnuffy]

MBA Harvard?
Arthur Anderson Accountant?

[OrangeDaisy]

This ride reminds me of the Blue Streak roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. It too has only seat belts that can be unfastened during the ride by the customer.

The Raven (the ride that this accident occurred on) has seatbelt-type restraints that the rider can buckle and unbuckle at will, but also a wretched individual lap bar that only the operator can lock and unlock (so if you're sitting with a large person and you're little, it can still crush your internal organs). Since Tammy Fellner was tiny (100 lbs), I assume not only did she unbuckle the seat belt, but she was also able to shimmy out of the lap bar and stand up (if the witnesses are speaking the truth).

[4mycountry]

Clap your hands, another recipient of the covetted Darwin Award had been found!! *claps*

[11th Earl of Mar]

Tamar Fellner, 32, who had earned a Harvard M.B.A. and ran her own business.

Like they say... "Book smart and life dumb."

[kstewskis]

lawn dart.

[myprecious]

You might want to add this one to your list. (Your ping list is great!)

[mhking]

She fall down--go splat....

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[nfldgirl]

Let's see...there's bound to be a lawsuit -- you can bet on it! The park, the roller coaster designer, builder, seat & seatbelt manufacturer, oh and possibly the company responsible for providing the power source that runs the coaster...am I forgetting anybody?

[_Jim]

am I forgetting anybody?

Her fiancé, Robert Weitzner?

[connectthedots]

She died from a case of acute terminal stupidity.