GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO/KJCT)-- The investigation continues into what happened after a 20-year-old woman was killed in an incident at a free fall attraction at Get Air at the Silo.
State investigators said they took the free fall device, called a Quick Jump XL to the makers, Head Rush Technology, to test the device. The investigators said they were not able to recreate the same situation with a malfunction of the device. They said the Quick Jump XL seemed to be working normally.
Head Rush Technology released the following statement that said in part:
"The QUICKjump XL device involved in the incident was inspected and tested in front of the state inspectors. This included a thorough inspection of the device, webbing and triple locking carabiner.
This inspection involved testing which subjected the device to various loading profiles across a range of weights, where the velocity and force were recorded in simulated descents.
The inspection and testing determined that the device, webbing and triple locking carabiner were found to be intact, and functioning normally, with no apparent damage."
To read their full statement, see the attached document.
The owners released the following statement after the incident:
"On January 4, 2018, at approximately 4 p.m., there was an accident involving the Quick-Jump system in the Silo Cave at Get Air at the Silo, which resulted in the death of a young woman, Ciara Romero. Get Air at the Silo feels deep sorrow and profound sympathy for her family and friends in their loss, and expresses its sincere condolences to them.
We also express our gratitude to the Grand Junction Police Department, Fire Department and Ambulance Services, who responded to the 911 call, and assisted Ciara and her family.
We are fully cooperating with the Grand Junction Police Department, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration and Colorado State regulatory agencies in their investigations of the incident. We will have no further comment regarding this investigation or incident."
"It's a relatively new device," said Scott Narreau, the head investigator for the Colorado Department of Labor.
They can be found in zip line courses across the country. Get Air at the Silo talked about the device when it was first installed in March of 2017.
"You clip into something that's called a quick jump and then you jump down into the other silo, which is a tremendous thrill because you look down, and it's just black and you free fall for about 15 feet, and then it catches you and lowers you down the rest of the way," said Joe White the Owner Get Air At The Silo.
"I do not know of any other incident like this happening on this type of device," said Narreau "In the amusement ride industry in Colorado this has probably been our first death in 15 years."
Narreau said the ride was inspected annually by a third party and daily by the owners as it is required to be.
"This device is in compliance with those inspections as well," said Narreau.
