Roller coaster scare: Passenger jumps to safety amid restraint failure
At the Castles N' Coasters amusement park in Phoenix, Arizona, a man was forced to jump from a moving roller coaster after his safety restraint came undone. He admits he had only seconds to make a decision. The incident was recorded, and the footage was published in local media.
The event occurred on a roller coaster named Desert Storm. In the video posted online, you can see the moment when a passenger, in a car ascending, suddenly leaves his seat and jumps to the technical ladder running along the track.
The man, who chose to remain anonymous, spoke to local media about the dramatic moments that unfolded during the ride.
The passenger had to make an immediate decision
The man reported that he was at the amusement park to celebrate his niece's birthday. After taking his seat in the car, he heard the characteristic click of the safety restraint, which — as it turned out later — was not functioning properly.
"As the roller coaster was pulling us to the top, I heard a strange noise and noticed the bar lifted," he told local station KPNX.
Faced with danger, he decided to jump out of the car. "I knew I couldn't take the risk. I had only seconds to act," he explained. Thanks to the technical ladder running along the track, he managed to get to the ground safely.
The staff did not react to the situation
The man accuses the park staff of irresponsibility. He claims that after taking his seat on the coaster, no one checked if his restraint was securely fastened. Moreover, his dramatic jump from the car went unnoticed by the employees. The roller coaster continued its course as if nothing had happened until the man reached the ground and reported the incident.
"The most terrifying thing was their disregard. No one noticed I jumped, and the ride continued as if nothing happened," he said. After returning to the ground, the passenger contacted the park authorities to submit his concerns in writing.
NBC News station, which covered the story, attempted to obtain a comment from the management of Castles N' Coasters but received no response by the time of publication. Meanwhile, the man who survived the dramatic incident is calling for improved safety procedures at the park to prevent similar situations in the future.
