Ohio man hit, killed by roller coaster

A 45-year-old man was killed after being struck by a roller coaster at an amusement park in Ohio, as he jumped over the boundary of the restricted area in search of his cellphone.

Young’s aunt, Deborah Mohr, told The Plain Dealer on Friday that her nephew was educated and responsible.

Speaking to Cleveland.com, she said: ‘It’s really hard to understand.

“He wasn’t someone who would normally disobey the law”, Mohr said.

She added that he was also a quick runner, and because of his height he probably thought he could be over the safety barrier and back before he was hit.

Young was from East Canton and had worked as a teacher for special-needs students in nearby Louisville last school year and, before that, in Alliance, The (Canton) Repository reported.

Mohr says Young was single and had just gotten hired as a high-school guidance counselor.

The ride was examined overnight by state safety officials and found to be in safe working order, so it resumed operating Friday, park spokesman Bryan Edwards said. He wouldn’t comment on whether officials are considering any changes to the Raptor or the area around it.

The park in Sandusky said in an email to media Friday that it has “respectfully postponed” the planned Tuesday announcement, expected to be the addition of a new roller coaster opening in 2016.