Power Outage Strands Arkansas Coaster Passengers Upside Down
Saturday's Power Outage at Magic Springs & Crystal Falls Amusement Park Stopped the X-Coaster in Its Tracks
According to KATV, firefighters from the local Hot Springs Fire Department used a ladder truck to pluck 12 to 16 riders from the coaster. On the ground, visitors watching the rescue efforts cheered for those saved from the dangling coaster train.
The X-Coaster is a recent addition to the Hot Springs amusement park. Passengers are hurtled 150 feet into the air, then flipped upside down before cascading into a 360-degree corkscrew roll at speeds topping 65 mph. The steel coaster has been operating at the park since May 27, 2006, according to the Roller Coaster Database online. Costing nearly $4 million, the popular roller coaster is capable of thrilling about 500 riders per hour at the amusement park. The portion of the X-Coaster where riders became stuck upside down is unofficially known as a "Sky Loop."
Angela Salter, a Magic Springs & Crystal Falls amusement park visitor, told The Associated Press, "You could tell who got off the (X-Coaster) because their faces were red." Salter was rescued from another coaster disabled by the power outage.
Although the amusement park remained open following the event, the X-Coaster closed for the day.
The Associated Press reports one X-Coaster rider was taken to St. Joseph Mercy Medical Center with a headache and neck pains. Likewise, as riders were rescued from the coaster train, one passenger threw up following the upside-down ordeal. KATV also reports an X-Coaster passenger was treated for dehydration.
Connie McBride told The Associated Press, "It was very scary... I love this amusement park, but I will never get on the X-Coaster again."
As reported by KATV, Alex Bernard relates his experience stating, "Man we was up there and just going up to the top. It only goes up there one time, and it just stopped and we up there for like 35 minutes. It was just crazy. My heart was still pounding."
Magic Springs & Crystal Falls President and General Manager Dan Aylward explained that this situation is not the first of its kind at the park. Power outages are not unheard of, but they usually last only a few seconds, unlike Saturday's event at the park.
Entergy Corp., the electricity supplier for the area, was still investigating the cause of the power outage. Mark Hunt, general manager for Entergy, told The Associated Press, "The cause could be a (tree) limb or as simple as an animal (on the lines)... We could find no faults, but we are going to continue to investigate until we find the cause."
"Blackout Leaves Coaster Riders Dangling." The Associated Press. URL: (http://www.wral.com/news/strange/story/1488476/).
"X-Coaster (Magic Springs & Crystal Falls)." Roller Coaster Database. URL: (http://www.rcdb.com/id3312.htm).
Dale Brown. "Magic Springs Loses Power." KATV. URL: (http://www.katv.com/news/stories/0607/430168.html).
Published by Jason K
Currently an undergraduate student at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. View profile
- Would YOU Be Prepared for a Power Outage like the One that Hit South Florida and M...Clearly, a massive power outage affect more than just you and your family. There can be major consequences for an entire community. What you need to know now.
- Five Ways to Quickly Adjust to an Unexpected Power OutageWhen you suffer a power outage it can be difficult to acclimate to your new situation. This article present five easy ways to quickly adjust to the inconveniences a power outage brings.
- What To Do And What Not Do In A Power OutageSeveral pointers for what to do and what not to do in a power outage.
- Massive Power Outage in Florida: What was the Cause? Mayor Says it was Not SabotageThis afternoon, at about 1 p.m., millions of Floridians were effected by a massive power loss.
Tips for Making Your Life Easier During a Power OutageDealing with a power outage is never fun, but there are a few ways to make life a little easier until your power returns.
- Roller Coaster Riders Left Hanging Upside-down
- Central Arkansas: Guide to 4th of July Weekend Fun
- Summer Concert Season Announced for Magic Springs Amusement Park in Hot Springs, A...
- Magic Springs Amusement Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas
- How to Plan for a Power Outage
- Keep Cool During Heat Wave and Power Outage Crisis
- How to Prepare for a Winter Power Outage
- A power outage at Magic Springs & Crystal Falls amusement park caused the X-Coaster to stall.
- 12 to 16 passengers had to be rescued by firefighters from the upside down coaster train.
- One person was treated for a headache and neck pains, while another was treated for dehydration.
2 Comments
Post a CommentMs. Jessica Tatum -- some of the original press releases from other sources printed: "It took about 30 minutes for the city Fire Department to rescue the riders using a ladder truck Saturday evening, said Aundrea Crary, spokeswoman for the Springs & Crystal Falls amusement park." (From The Associated Press)
on the roller coaster ride.... well yea... some facts need to be straightened up here! the fire dept. did not rescue the riders or in your terms... pluck them out... they had to wait on the power to come back on and I know this because I was there! It would've been more dangerous for the firefighters to try and rescue than to just wait it out! they couldn't have done the ladder rescue.... the ladder wouldn't have reached... this isn't a big city you know and rope rescue might have possibly worked, but highly doubtful considering the riders were upside down and they would've had to been cut out of their seats...( my husband's a firefighter and has had lots of training) not happening by the way, and another thing, would you want the fire dept to risk the power coming back on during rescue and swiping out the hero and victim? nope don't think so! so.... before you go telling the world about something, get your stuff straight... and make sure the person you get your facts from knows w