Metal Bracket Detaches from Cedar Point Rollercoaster, Lands Near Park-Goers
No injuries were reported after a piece of the Millennium Force ride fell, leading to a temporary shutdown.
A metal bracket detached from the Millennium Force rollercoaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, on Friday, landing near two park visitors. The incident occurred at one of Six Flags Entertainment Corp.'s theme parks and is part of a recent series of mechanical issues at amusement parks across the country.
Ryan Rowton and Matt Bickley were in the park's VIP area adjacent to the rollercoaster when the steel bracket fell. "At first we thought it was a phone, but a phone wouldn’t make that sound. Hitting cement," Rowton told Fox 8. Bickley added that the part landed in an area accessible to the public, with no safety netting present.
A spokesperson for Cedar Point confirmed that no injuries or casualties resulted from the incident. The ride was shut down for inspection and maintenance and subsequently reopened on Saturday evening.
"The ride has resumed operations following the successful completion of maintenance inspections and all required safety checks. The safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority," the spokesperson stated.
The Millennium Force is a 310-foot-tall steel rollercoaster manufactured by Intamin. It reaches a maximum speed of 93 mph. Intamin has also manufactured other rides at Cedar Point, including Wilderness Run, Wicked Twister, Top Thrill 2, and Maverick, all of which remain operational.
Six Flags previously shut down several rides at its parks following a tragic incident at Six Flags Over Georgia that involved the death of Hassan Kariem. That particular ride involved was manufactured by B&M Manufacturing.