Rollercoaster Derails At Theme Park In Daytona Beach, Florida

[gregjrichards]

Screams filled the air at the Daytona Beach Boardwalk on Thursday night after a rollercoaster car derailed, dropping two people 34 feet to the ground.

Daytona Beach Fire Department rushed to the scene, where they were seen using ladders and a crane to save several other trapped carnival-goers, slowly but surely ushering them across a bridge to be lowered down to safety.

The department freed ten people in total from the ride, after one car completely derailed and another two became stuck, and six of those passengers are in hospital.

Two patients are in a critical condition.

Daytona Beach Boardwalk rollercoaster is derailed as two people fall 34 feet to the ground | Daily Mail Online

I am really glad nobody has lost their life in this incident. I wonder how well maintained this ride was and when it was inspected. Surely 40 years is an awfully long time for a ride to be in service? I wouldn’t be enthusiastic about riding a ride I knew was that old.

 

[Jax49]

6 hurt in rollercoaster accident at Daytona Beach Boardwalk

The rollercoaster is called the Sand Blaster. It opened on the Boardwalk at the beginning of August 2013.

It is 85 feet high and has more than a half-mile of track. The three coaster cars were on a line of track that was about 30 feet from the ground. The front car was hanging down from the track. Two remained strapped in the car for more than 30 minutes while firefighters worked to pull them out, Staton said.

 

[Jax49]

RAW AUDIO: Listen to the newly released 911 calls from Daytona Beach roller coaster derailment

 

[Jax49]

The Latest: Inspectors found previous problems with coaster

A spokeswoman says a hospital received nine patients from a roller coaster accident in Florida that sent two riders plummeting to the ground and required the rescue of eight others.

A month before a roller coaster in Florida derailed, sending two riders plummeting to the ground, state inspectors had found problems with the ride.

State inspection reports released to The Associated Press on Friday show that inspectors last month found excessive corrosion, a damaged seat and a crack in the track.

bbm

 

[gregjrichards]

The Latest: Inspectors found previous problems with coaster





bbm

I’m not surprised in the slightest. Thank you for posting.

 

[Jax49]

Riders plunge 34 feet, 6 injured in roller coaster derail

A roller coaster that derailed in Florida had been put out of service by state inspectors twice in the past year and a half because of problems with the ride.

Two riders fell 34 feet (10 meters) when their car derailed Thursday night and was left dangling from the track. Firefighters used ladders to pull eight others to safety high above the Daytona Beach Boardwalk.

"The front car which was holding four passengers completely came off the tracks," said Daytona Beach Fire spokeswoman Sasha Staton. The two riders who fell from the Sand Blaster ride suffered traumatic injuries, she said.

Of nine passengers taken to the hospital, all but two were discharged by Friday afternoon.

bbm

 

[Jax49]

Excessive speed blamed for Daytona roller coaster derailment

In a statement Tuesday, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said a preliminary investigation determined that excessive speed caused the Sand Blaster Roller Coaster at the Daytona Beach Boardwalk to derail.