Teen killed by roller coaster

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A 17-year-old boy was killed by a roller coaster at a Six Flags Inc amusement park in Georgia on Saturday after entering a restricted area, park officials said.

The teen, visiting from Springfield, South Carolina, with his church group, was struck and killed instantly by the Batman roller coaster after scaling 6-foot fences marked by danger signs with another boy, Six Flags spokeswoman Hela Sheth said in a statement.

"The areas where the individuals entered were clearly marked with signs that stated 'Restricted area/Authorized personnel only' and a sign on a locked gate that read 'Danger zone. Do not enter,'" Sheth said in the statement.

The teen's family was at the park, and Six Flags has been working with local police officials to investigate the death.

The theme park remained open on Sunday while the ride was closed. The company anticipates reopening the ride on Monday, Sheth said.

A report in the Atlanta Journal Constitution quoted police as saying the boy was decapitated.

It was the second death related to the Batman ride at the theme park after a 58-year-old park worker was killed in 2002 when he was kicked by a passenger while working in a restricted area, the newspaper said.

(Reporting by Emily Chasan; Editing by Eric Walsh)