Caught too much air 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
Victim opened belt,
stood on coaster
By AUSTIN FENNER and BILL HUTCHINSON
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
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
Originally published on June 4, 2003
Submittor's note: Verified on 2 additional sites:
Original Story: http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/89436p-81359c.html
American Coaster Enthusiasts (that the accident occured and Tamar is a member): http://www.aceonline.org/
Holiday World (including press releases and independant reports) : http://www.holidayworld.com/
This was too good to pass up! Maybe it's not quite so difficult to graduate with a Harvard MBA afterall!
Submitted on 06/04/2003
Submitted by:
Anonymous
Reference:
NY daily news 6/4
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