I was afraid this would play into the accident. I have always had a problem with those of "Exceptional Size" being jammed into a seat. Just doesn't seem safe to me. I would rather be told no than to die from a failed restraint.I feel terrible for the kids that had to witness this happen to their mother.
As a woman of "exceptional size" I had an incident on FOF about 4 years ago where a ride op was trying to force the lap bar down enough to have the seat belt click on the side of the train. I told the ride op " if you have to do all of this to allow me to ride that's crazy, unsafe, and point blank i'm not riding" The ride ops did let me off the ride. I enjoy roller coasters, but it's not worth dying over just to get on one. I can't ride DB due to my thighs(I tried the test seat and it did not turn green). but that's okay. I don't want to be jammed in just to be able to ride. I feel very sorry for the victim who apparently didn't feel safe in the restraint and I feel sorry for the family having to see this happen to her. Prayers for the family!
My husband is 6'6" and not a tiny guy. He too had the same happen at FoF. There were 2 teens trying to use their feet to get the restraints to lock while my husband kept saying "just let me out, it's ok. No need to hurt me, make everyone wait and possibly damage the restraints for a ride." They kept insisting they could get him in til I finally grabbed the guys arm and told him to STOP. I rode and when we were done, called a super to explain why it wasn't needed. I figure it more common for larger people to whine about how unjust it is that the rides cater to smaller bodies, so the attendants get in the habit of slamming and jamming to make it happen.