by Joe Kleiman, InPark News Editor
(July 22, 2013) — Over the weekend, four major theme park rides were closed indefinitely. Two of the rides were closed after accidents occurred – one fatal – while the other two closures were precautionary in measure.
On Friday, July 19, a boat on Shoot the Rapids at Cedar Point, Ohio rolled backwards down the lift hill and flipped over, trapping its seven passengers. According to spectators, bystanders assisted in lifting the boat, allowing those trapped underneath to surface. All seven passengers were reported to have only minor injuries. Shoot the Rapids, an Intamin Spillwater, remains closed while state investigators determine the cause of the accident.
Also on Friday, a 52-year old woman was flung from The New Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. The coroner listed her cause of death as “multiple traumatic injuries due to fall from roller coaster.” Texas Giant, one of the world’s tallest, fastest coasters, and manufactured by Dinn Corporation, opened in 1990. It reopened in 2011 sporting modifcations, including 95 degree banked turns, designed by Rocky Mountain Coasters. The Arlington police department has handed over the investigation of the incident to an internal Six Flags team working in conjunction with a team from Gerstlauer, which manufactured the ride vehicles for The New Texas Giant. The ride remains closed indefinitely.
Also closed, as a precautionary measure, is the Iron Rattler at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antoino. The rebuilt wooden coaster from Rocky Mountain, also features overbanked turns and a 360 degree barrel roll. Ride vehicles for the Iron Rattler are also manufactured by Gerstlauer.
In the UK, Alton Towers Resort on Sunday, July 21, closed The Smiler, the new record-breaking 14-inversion coaster manufactured by Gerstlauer after witnesses in line heard something metallic fall from the structure. One witness told the Express and Star: “We turned around and there was a metal bar not even a metre away on the floor behind us. It was just under 1ft long and about two inches thick.” Numerous photographs of a visible gap in the track were posted to twitter.
According to park spokeswoman Elizabeth West: “Yesterday morning, in line with our standard procedures, Alton Towers Resort closed The Smiler to investigate a small piece of debris that had allegedly fallen from the track. At no time was any visitor at any risk, and 48 guests on the ride at the time were safely disembarked. As the health and safety of our guests is our primary concern, the ride will remain closed whilst the resort’s technical teams investigate.”
PHOTO CREDITS (Top to Bottom):
- Iron Rattler under construction, Six Flags Fiesta Texas (courtesy Six Flags)
- The New Texas Giant at night, Six Flags Over Texas (courtesy Six Flags)
- Shoot the Rapids, Cedar Point (courtesy Cedar Fair)
- Coaster train entering overbanked curve on The New Texas Giant, Six Flags Over Texas (courtesy Six Flags)
- New Texas Giant train on display prior to ride opening, Six Flags Over Texas (courtesy Six Flags)
- The Smiler, Alton Towers Resort (courtesy Merlin Entertainments)