The man involved in the Kings Island roller coaster accident has died, officials say

Katie Wiseman, Aaron Valdez and Quinlan Bentley, Indianapolis Star
Updated ·2 min read
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Update: An Ohio man who was thought to have been hit by a roller coaster at Kings Island has died, according to the Hamilton County Ohio Coroner's Office, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Tuesday.

Previous coverage: The man reportedly entered a restricted area near the park's massive steel inverted roller coaster, and officials believe the ride struck him.

Here's what we know.

What happened at Kings Island?

According to a press release from the park, at around 8 p.m. Wednesday, the man entered a restricted area in the theme park, near the Banshee roller coaster.

While the man was behind the fences of the restricted area, he was "believed to have been struck by the ride," Kings Island officials said in a statement to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

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What were the man's injuries in the Kings Island accident?

Kings Island personnel called dispatchers asking them to send paramedics to the roller coaster for someone who suffered a "head injury," according to Warren County Communications Center records.

Dispatchers said first responders reported that a man was found with "major head trauma." The man was transported to West Chester Hospital and then to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in a medical helicopter.

What is the status of the man involved in the Kings Island accident?

Arntanaro Nelson, 38, of Wilmington, Ohio, was pronounced dead on Friday at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he was flown for treatment after being found with a serious injury inside a restricted area near the Banshee roller coaster.

The coroner's office listed Nelson's circumstances of death as a "suspected accident."

Why was the man in the restricted area?

Ketterer told The Enquirer the man was in the restricted area to retrieve keys that he had dropped while previously riding the Banshee.

Kings Island accident investigation updates

Kings Island officials have notified the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which has a Division of Amusement Ride Safety and Fairs, about the incident.

ODA inspectors conducted a full re-inspection of the ride and investigation to ensure the ride was operating per Ohio’s law and rules before it reopened, which it did on Saturday.

What roller coaster was involved in the Kings Island accident?

An aerial view of Kings Island's new Banshee roller coaster, as seen from the Eiffel Tower taken by staff reporter Rachel Richardson in 2014.
An aerial view of Kings Island's new Banshee roller coaster, as seen from the Eiffel Tower taken by staff reporter Rachel Richardson in 2014.

The Banshee is an inverted roller coaster where the top of the seats are connected to the track. The theme park's website says the Banshee is the world's longest steel inverted roller coaster and reaches speeds of 68 mph.

USA TODAY reporter Claire Thornton; and Cincinnati Enquirer reporters Jennie Key and Cheryl Vari contributed to this report. Katie Wiseman is a trending news intern at IndyStar. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @itskatiewiseman.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Man involved in Kings Island roller coaster accident has died