Ohio Man Dead After Being Struck by Roller Coaster While Attempting to Retrieve Lost Keys

An Ohio man believed to have been struck by a roller coaster at Kings Island amusement park last week has died, as reported by multiple news outlets.

Arntanaro Nelson, 38, of Wilmington, passed away on Friday at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he had been receiving treatment following the incident on Wednesday, June 19, according to NBC affiliate WLWT and The Cincinnati Enquirer. Both the Mason police and the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office confirmed Nelson’s identity, CBS affiliate WHIO reported.

According to a Kings Island spokesperson cited by WLWT, Nelson had entered a fenced, restricted area near the Banshee roller coaster around 8 p.m. local time on Wednesday. A police report obtained by PEOPLE indicated that security personnel at Kings Island discovered Nelson in the restricted area, prompting officers to respond to the scene for a reported traumatic injury.

Details from CBS affiliate WKRC revealed that Nelson had reportedly lost his keys while on the roller coaster and sought to retrieve them. However, when he approached a ride greeter with his children, he was informed that retrieval was not possible until the park closed.

Shortly thereafter, riders on the Banshee ride returned alarmed, claiming they had hit something during their ride. A ride operator, speaking anonymously to WKRC, recounted the incident: “They said, ‘We hit something, we hit something, we hit something!’”

Nelson was transported to the hospital in critical condition and tragically succumbed to his injuries two days later, according to WLWT and WHIO. The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office categorized Nelson’s death as a “suspected accident,” and an investigation into the incident is currently underway, as reported by The Enquirer.

Despite the tragic event, the Banshee ride resumed operations on Saturday morning, as confirmed by both The Enquirer and WHIO.

The incident underscores ongoing safety concerns at amusement parks across the country, prompting renewed scrutiny and discussions about park protocols and visitor safety.