CovenantNews.com

Christian Teen Decapitated at Six Flags

Rhonda Cook / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
The popular "Batman the Ride" rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia remained closed Sunday while authorities continued investigating the death of a teenager who jumped over two fences and was struck by the ride. The 17-year-old South Carolina teen who died was identified as Asia Leeshawn Ferguson, of Springfield, S.C. He was on a church outing when the incident occurred about 2 p.m. Saturday. It was the second Batman ride-related death at the Cobb County park. Ferguson was decapitated when the ride struck him, police said. The teen was with a group from Oakley Spring Baptist Church in Salley, S.C., a small town about 50 miles east of Augusta. He had been in Six Flags earlier in the day, but he and another boy left the park property to get some lunch, according to Cobb County police spokesman Sgt. Dana Pierce.

Related:
Family Mourns Teen Hit by Roller Coaster in Ga.
The Associated Press
AUSTELL, Ga. -- The father of a South Carolina teenager decapitated by a roller coaster at a Georgia amusement park said Sunday that family members may never know why he hopped two fences to enter a restricted area. Police said Asia LeeShawn Ferguson IV, 17, of Columbia, S.C., died when he was hit by the Batman roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Saturday. The ride was to remain closed through Monday out of respect for his family.

Teen Was Taking Shortcut Back to Park
By Clif Leblanc / The State, SC
SPRINGFIELD -- The skies darkened and thundered, and raindrops fell on a pained Asia Ferguson as he gazed toward the cemetery where he buried his father in April and soon will inter his teenage son. Asia LeeShawn Ferguson IV, 17, died Saturday in a freak amusement park accident in Atlanta when he was struck by a roller coaster he was not riding and was decapitated. During the bus ride back Sunday to this Orangeburg County town where the Fergusons have attended Oakey Spring Missionary Baptist Church for five generations, the father said, "We still don't know what happened." All he could do was lament the gnawing loss.

Posted by Editor at June 30, 2008 12:20 AM