Gabriela RodrÃguez Tezoco’s school posted a tribute after the 18-year-old was killed on a carnival ride in Mexico.
The recent graduate died early Wednesday morning at a hospital in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, following a fall from “The Pendulum” at the Cabo San Lucas Traditional Festivals. Tezoco had been riding the spinning attraction Tuesday night when she was thrown from her seat at full speed, according to footage recorded by another rider on the attraction.
The cell phone video captured other riders screaming as Tezoco plummeted to the ground while the ride continued spinning. Emergency services responded to the festival grounds and transported her for medical treatment, but she succumbed to her injuries hours later.
“It is with deep sorrow that we report that the young woman who was injured in the incident that occurred in the amusement park area of the Cabo San Lucas Traditional Festivals, and who was immediately transferred to receive medical attention, lost her life despite the efforts of the health personnel,” the Los Cabos City Council wrote on social media.
The municipal government announced that “The Pendulum” has been shut down pending safety tests on it and all other attractions at the fair. Los Cabos mayor Christian Agundez addressed the tragedy during an appearance at a festival concert.
“Today, with the same spirit with which we come together to celebrate, we must come together to support Gabriela’s family. It could have been any one of us. You are not alone,” Agundez said.
The Baja California Sur State Attorney General’s Office opened an investigation Wednesday into the circumstances surrounding the fatality and to determine potential liability. No arrests have been made, and authorities have not publicly identified any operator responsible for the ride.
Tezoco had completed her studies this summer at the Baja California Sur College of Baccalaureate Studies. The institution issued a statement mourning her loss.
“May your smile remain alive in our memory and may your memory always be a light that guides us,” the school said.
The Cabo San Lucas Traditional Festivals draw crowds to the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula for annual celebrations combining amusement rides, concerts, and cultural events. The incident has raised questions about safety protocols at temporary carnival installations as the investigation continues.