Occurred on April 26, 2025 / Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA
Info from Licensor: "My weekend getaway. We're on the way to Anakeesta theme park with our two kids and decide to go on this coaster. My boyfriend rode with our daughter. My son is 7 and had to ride alone. Being a mom, I wanted to go first, so I take off on the coaster. At first, it’s going fast. I’m not suppose to brake or stop while riding. Toward the end, the ride is on neutral and at this point I have no control-- going fast, slowing down, nothing. As I’m going, I hear a noise to my left. I said to myself, 'I’m hearing things or it’s just a wild rabbit.' All of a sudden, I looked back and I see two bears. My heart is racing, not for myself, but for my son who is behind me. I knew I had to keep calm, no matter what. My only weapon was my shoe. I know that she wouldn’t do anything, but it was something. Thankfully, my son was at the very bottom. The bears had already taken off."
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