CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA: A North Carolina amusement park was forced to shut down one of its popular roller coasters after visitors spotted a huge crack on a support beam. Carowinds shut down Fury 325 on Friday, June 30 after riders had been riding it as scheduled all day, according to news reports.
The attraction, which spans into both North Carolina and South Carolina, is described as the "tallest, fastest, and longest giga coaster in North America" on the park's website. On Friday, a visitor identified as Jeremy Wagner shared on Facebook that he discovered the crack in the Fury 325 and notified officials. He even posted a video that showed the beam bending as cars with passengers whirled by. The Charlotte Observer states that at least two park visitors informed authorities about the crack. Despite the park saying that it inspects rides daily, park visitors claim it took days after they first noticed the crack for it to be closed down for repairs. A 911 call was also made in reference to the crack, according to CBS 17.
Who owns Carowinds amusement park?
Carowinds Amusement Park, which opened in 1973, is owned and operated by Cedar Fair whose current CEO is Richard A Zimmerman. Apart from Carowinds, Cedar Fair also operates 11 other amusement parks and four outdoor water parks. Following complaints regarding the crack, a spokesperson for Carowinds, which sits outside of Charlotte, told Fox News Digital that the attraction is being inspected by the park's maintenance crew. “Carowinds closed Fury 325 after park personnel became aware of a crack at the top of a steel support pillar,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“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, all rides, including Fury 325, undergo daily inspections to ensure their proper functioning and structural integrity,” the statement continued.
Fury 325 reportedly cost over $30 million to build, and it opened its doors to guests in 2015. It has an 81-degree fall down a track that is slightly over a mile long and reaches speeds of up to 95 miles per hour. When it was opened, the attraction, which stood 325 feet tall, was the fifth-tallest roller coaster in the world.
One killed, nine injured in roller coaster crash
Carowinds’ decision to shut down Fury 325 came just a few days after one person was killed and nine others were injured in a horrific roller coaster crash at the Grona Lund amusement park in the Swedish capital Stockholm on Sunday, June 25. Witnesses reported that during a ride, the park's Jetline roller coaster partially derailed, sending riders tumbling to the ground. Police said the nine injured people were being treated in hospital, and that three had severe injuries. "Today is a day of mourning at Grona Lund, we've had a very serious accident in the roller coaster Jetline, where one person has died and nine people have been injured," Jan Eriksson, the park's chief executive, said in a press conference.
