Gabriela Rodríguez Tezoco was a teenage girl who died after falling from a carnival ride in Los Cabos. It’s the latest amusement park ride death to hit the news, although serious injuries at carnivals are relatively rare.
According to Expreso, Rodríguez Tezoco died after plunging from a ride called “The Pendulum,” which was “installed at the Traditional Cabo San Lucas Holidays in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur.” Her death occurred on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
She flew out of her seat while the carnival ride was operating and fell to the ground. First responders rushed to the scene and took her to the hospital, but it was too late, Expreso reported. A heartbreaking video showed the girl flying off the ride.
The horrific incident comes just days after a man flew out of a roller coaster and died at the Six Flags amusement park in Georgia. His name was Hassan Kariem, and the incident is under investigation.
The Los Cabos Mayor Wrote, ‘It Could Have Been Any of Us’
The city’s mayor underscored the random nature of the tragedy.
Mayor Christian Agúndez Gómez issued a statement on Facebook: “These festivities remind us of who we are, where we come from, and what we are capable of when we are united. Today, with the same spirit with which we unite to celebrate, we must unite to support the family of Gabriela. It could have been any of us. They are not alone.”
H. XV Ayuntamiento de Los Cabos, the municipal government’s page, wrote in the statement: “It is with deep sorrow that we report that the young woman who was injured in an incident at the amusement ride area during the Traditional Festivities of Cabo San Lucas—and who was immediately transported for medical care—has passed away, despite the efforts of medical personnel.”
The statement continued: “We join in respect and solidarity with the grief of Gabriela’s family, friends, and loved ones.”
The Attorney General’s Office Is Conducting an Investigation Into the Amusement Ride Death
The Attorney General’s Office of the State of Baja California Sur “will be responsible for determining the causes of the incident and establishing accountability in accordance with the law,” the statement continued.
“The Municipal Government of Los Cabos will cooperate fully and provide all necessary support to the family. We urge the public to act with respect and to seek information exclusively through official channels.”
How Often Are People Seriously Injured on Roller Coasters in North America?
How common are amusement park injuries? They’re pretty rare, although they do happen multiple times per year at amusement parks throughout the U.S. and North America.
“An estimated 118 serious injuries occurred at amusement parks in North America” in 2024, according to KCRA-TV. There were more injuries that were not categorized as serious.
“The chance of being seriously injured on a fixed-site ride at a U.S. amusement park is 1 in 15.5 million rides taken,” according to the IAAPA. “Most of the ride injuries, about 60%, are attributed to guest-related factors, like not following the rules or having a medical condition,” KCRA-TV reported.
Related: Experts Issue Warning After Six Flags Roller Coaster Death
