Current:Home > MarketsA roller coaster was shut down after a crack was found in a support beam. A customer says he spotted it. -TrueNorth Capital Hub
A roller coaster was shut down after a crack was found in a support beam. A customer says he spotted it.
View
Date:2025-04-16 13:21:42
An amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina, closed one of its roller coasters Friday after a crack was found on a support beam.
Carowinds shut down Fury 325, which the park's website advertises as the "tallest, fastest, longest giga coaster in North America" that crosses into both North Carolina and South Carolina.
Video of the ride showed the crack in the beam as cars packed with riders whizzed by.
Park patron Jeremy Wagner told CBS Charlotte, N.C. affiliate WBTV he was the one who spotted the crack and took the video.
He said he was waiting for his kids to finish one last ride on the coaster when, "I look up and I see a light come through the pole."
When the next car came by, he pulled out his phone and videoed it.
Wagner told WBTV what he saw when he played it back sent a shock through his chest.
"When the car came by," he said, "I saw (the beam) move."
Posted by Jeremy Wagner on Friday, June 30, 2023
(Credit: Jeremy Wagner via Storyful)
He told The New York Times that as he was shooting the video, "My hands were shaking because I knew how quick this could be catastrophic."
Wagner told WBTV he immediately showed the video to park security to have them shut the ride but didn't get a clear answer on whether park officials would. But Wagner eventually called the fire department and learned that his video did indeed prompt the shutdown of the Fury.
"My heart was like relieved because I was just afraid ... are they gonna do the right thing? I just didn't want to see something bad happen," he remarked to WBTV.
"It takes one time, just one time" for tragedy to strike, he said.
Tiffany Collins Newton told CBS News that on June 24, she took a photo that appeared to show "the beginnings of the crack" on the roller coaster. She said she did not notice the crack until after the ride was closed on Friday and she zoomed in on her recent photos.
The park said in a statement that it shut the ride "after park personnel became aware of a crack at the top of a steel support pillar. The park's maintenance team is conducting a thorough inspection and the ride will remain closed until repairs have been completed. Safety is our top priority and we appreciate the patience and understanding of our valued guests during this process.
"As part of our comprehensive safety protocols," the statement continued, "all rides, including Fury 325, undergo daily inspections to ensure their proper functioning and structural integrity."
Fury 325 first opened to the public in 2015 and cost approximately $30 million to build, according to news reports.
Carowinds didn't say how long repairs would take. The rest of the park will remain open.
State officials said they were going to inspect the ride Monday.
veryGood! (483)
Related
- Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
- Hayden Panettiere Says Horrific Paparazzi Photos Led to Agoraphobia Struggle After Her Brother's Death
- Many women deal with painful sex, bladder issues. There's a fix, but most have no idea.
- Ping pong balls thrown at Atlanta city council members in protest of mayor, 'Cop City'
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- 'Survivor' Season 47 premiere: Date, time, cast, how to watch and stream
- John Thune is striving to be the next Republican Senate leader, but can he rise in Trump’s GOP?
- False reports of explosives found in a car near a Trump rally spread online
- North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
- Florida sheriff posts mug shot of 11-year-old charged in fake school shooting threat
Ranking
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- Chiefs RB depth chart: How Isiah Pacheco injury, Kareem Hunt signing impacts KC backfield
- What time does 'The Golden Bachelorette' start? Premiere date, cast, where to watch and stream
- Marvel's 'Agatha All Along' is coming: Release date, cast, how to watch
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- 'Survivor' Season 47 premiere: Date, time, cast, how to watch and stream
- Jordan Chiles deserved Olympic bronze medal. And so much more
- Winning numbers for Sept. 17 Mega Millions drawing: Jackpot rises to $31 million
Recommendation
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ indictment alleges he used power to build empire of sexual crime
Travis County sues top Texas officials, accusing them of violating National Voter Registration Act
What to know about the pipeline fire burning for a third day in Houston’s suburbs
Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
Honolulu Police Department is adding dozens of extra police officers to westside patrols
FBI investigates suspicious packages sent to election officials in multiple states
Dancing With the Stars: Dwight Howard, 'pommel horse guy' among athletes competing