Roller coaster ride became 'nightmare' for woman's family

HOUSTON -- It was Rosy Esparza's first trip to Six Flags.

She sat beside her son on the Texas Giant -- a 14-story-high roller coaster that boasts what the amusement park calls "the world's steepest drop." And before the ride started climbing, CNN affiliate KTVT reported, Esparza was worried.

To her, the lap bar that holds passengers in their seats didn't seem secure, witnesses told the CNN affiliate.

Minutes later, one of the roller coaster's seats came back empty.

Now Esparza is dead, family members told CNN affiliates KTVT andWFAA. A spokeswoman for Six Flags Over Texas says the theme park is committed to finding out what led to the woman's death on Friday. And authorities are investigating.

CNN has not been able to reach the family for comment.

In Facebook posts on Saturday, her sons described the experience as a nightmare.

A flood of condolences and prayers poured in.

"Only God knows Mama," Amado Esparza posted in Spanish along with a photo showing a group of people praying at the amusement park, "something that I will always have as a memory of you is that you loved adventures."

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