Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: City Replaces Civil Protection Chief After Fatal Ride Accident

After the fatal fall of an 18-year-old woman from an amusement ride in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, the municipal government of Los Cabos has replaced the head of its civil protection agency. The young woman fell to the ground from a great height on Tuesday evening, October 20, at the grounds of the traditional fiestas in the Mexican resort town, and died at a hospital overnight into Wednesday. Cabo San Lucas lies at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula and is part of the municipality of Los Cabos.

Safety bar came loose during the ride

The accident happened on a ride known as "El Péndulo." It swings like a pendulum while spinning at high speed, and riders hang upside down at times. The newspaper Diario El Independiente calls the ride "Fireball."

A video shows the safety bar, which extends over the shoulders and upper body, lifting on the 18-year-old's seat. The young woman tries to hold on, but then slips out of the seat and falls. The ride keeps spinning for a few more seconds afterward, and other riders scream.

Emergency personnel from civil protection and public safety, along with paramedics, including from the Red Cross, provided immediate assistance. The young woman was taken to a hospital but died there of her severe injuries.

Prosecutors examine technical defects and operator error

The Baja California Sur state attorney general's office (PGJE) has opened an investigation. Investigators are examining mechanical failures, defects in the restraint system, operator error and violations of safety regulations. The focus is on why the bar opened while the ride was running at full speed.

The ride was shut down immediately and is in the custody of the investigating authority. All other rides at the fair were inspected. According to the news site Nuevo Sonora, the attorney general's office has so far not reported any arrests, and no one responsible for operating the ride has been named. The cause remains unclear.

New head of civil protection

One day after the 18-year-old's death, the Los Cabos municipal government removed the head of the city's civil protection agency, Francisco Cota Márquez. According to a statement from the city, Diego Camacho Hale is serving as acting head. The change is intended to make the prosecutors' work easier, the city said.

Mayor Christian Agúndez Gómez expressed his condolences to the family. The city government confirmed the young woman's death on social media.

The 18-year-old had graduated this year from the Colegio de Bachilleres of Baja California Sur in Cabo San Lucas. The school remembered her smile, her warmth and her kindness: "Today we say goodbye in deep sorrow to a young woman who will always be part of the history and memories of our school community."