Disabled vet killed on NY roller-coaster ride died happy, sister says

DARIEN, N.Y. (AP)

The sister of a disabled Iraq War veteran who was thrown from a roller coaster in upstate New York says her brother died happy.

Jody Hackemer said Saturday she believes that for the minute her brother was on the ride, he probably felt the happiest he had been in recent years after losing his legs in Iraq in 2008.

Sgt. James Hackemer was killed Friday on the Ride of Steel coaster at the Darien Lake Theme Park Resort.

The 29-year-old was ejected from the 208-foot-tall ride during a family outing.

Jody Hackemer says her brother wanted to ride as many rides as he could.

His relatives gathered Saturday at the family home in rural Gowanda, about 30 miles south of Buffalo.