Woman dies after falling from ride at Pigeon Forge park

June Carol Alexander, 51, of Nashville died from injuries suffered after falling from “The Hawk” at Rockin Raceway. The ride is shaped like a ship and rocks back and forth, going higher each time. It eventually turns completely upside down.

Alexander fell about 60 feet from the ride when it turned upside down, said Lt. Lynn Wilhoite of the Pigeon Forge Police Department. She was taken to Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

“We don’t know why this happened,” Wilhoite said.

Representatives from the park’s insurance company and the ride’s manufacturer are on their way to Pigeon Forge to inspect the site, which has been secured by police. The investigation is ongoing, Wilhoite said.

Alexander was the only person injured in the early afternoon incident, he said.

“To my knowledge, I don’t think we’ve ever had anything like this at any of the amusement parks around here,” Wilhoite said.

Dollywood also is in Pigeon Forge, which is located about 30 miles southeast of Knoxville.