Congo Tourist Who Died Purposely Misidentified
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Friends deliberately misidentified a visitor from Africa who suffered an aneurysm on a roller coaster and later died, fearing she would not get medical treatment, the family’s lawyer said Thursday.
Justine Dedele Bolia, 20, was visiting from the Congo, said attorney Aime Katambwe.
Bolia died of a brain aneurysm early Saturday at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana after lapsing into unconsciousness during a ride on the Montezooma’s Revenge roller coaster at Knott’s Berry Farm. She previously was identified as Gafundi Mekanisi, 25, of Corona.
Orange County sheriff’s spokesman Jim Amormino said the erroneous name was given to all authorities involved. The coroner’s office was still waiting for family members to supply proper identification for the woman.
Knott’s reopened the roller coaster Thursday with approval from the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which said there was no evidence the ride contributed to the woman’s death.
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