Current:Home > NewsA roller coaster was shut down after a crack was found in a support beam. A customer says he spotted it. -DollarDynamic
A roller coaster was shut down after a crack was found in a support beam. A customer says he spotted it.
View
Date:2025-04-17 19:14:17
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! (2156)
Related
- Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
- Sophia Smith, Portland Thorns sign contract making her NWSL's highest-paid player
- Why Jennifer Garner's Vital—Not Viral—Beauty Tips Are Guaranteed to Influence You
- Fans are losing their minds after Caleb Williams reveals painted nails, pink phone
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Charlie Woods finishes in three-way tie for 32nd in American Junior Golf Association debut
- This stinks. A noxious weed forces Arizona national monument’s picnic area to close until May
- A $15 toll to drive into part of Manhattan has been approved. That’s a first for US cities
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- MLB predictions 2024: Who's winning it all? World Series, MVP, Cy Young picks
Ranking
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Media attorney warns advancing bill would create ‘giant loophole’ in Kentucky’s open records law
- Who is Nicole Shanahan, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new running mate?
- Beyoncé 'Cowboy Carter' tracklist hints at Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson collaborations
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- Best remaining NFL free agents: Ranking 20 top players available, led by Justin Simmons
- Feel like a lottery loser? Powerball’s $865 million jackpot offers another chance to hit it rich
- Ex-Diddy associate alleges arrested Brendan Paul was mogul's drug 'mule,' Yung Miami was sex worker
Recommendation
The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
NCAA President Charlie Baker urges state lawmakers to ban prop betting on college athletes
Former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan convicted in sprawling bribery case
More teens would be tried in adult courts for gun offenses under Kentucky bill winning final passage
Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
About 2,000 migrants begin a Holy Week walk in southern Mexico to raise awareness of their plight
Dairy Queen announces new 2024 Summer Blizzard Treat Menu: Here's when it'll be available
Dallas resident wins $5 million on Texas Lottery scratch-off game