Photo: Christoph Reichwein/dpa (Photo by Christoph Reichwein/picture alliance via Getty Images)
A man had to think quickly after the safety bar on a moving roller coaster became unlatched during the ride. According to local outlet KPNX (12News), the incident happened on Sunday (Nov. 24) at Castles N’ Coasters in Arizona.
Media outlets have not named the man involved at his request. However, he explained that he had visited the amusement park to celebrate his niece’s birthday. He was riding the Desert Storm roller coaster, which makes a double loop, when the safety bar was unlatched. It had reportedly only been seconds since the ride started and the clicking of the roller coaster climb. At the top, the man realized the safety bar wasn’t secured. The man claims that he heard the bar latch at the start of the ride but that the operator didn’t physically check them.
“We start the climb, and you hear the click of the chain of the normal roller coaster,” the man explained to 12News. “We get just about to the top, and I hear a click different from the click of the chain taking us up, and so, I checked my lap bar one last time, and it released.”
With only seconds left, he immediately hopped out of the roller coaster cart and stood on the ride’s catwalk. The Desert Storm operator reportedly didn’t realize what had happened until the man reached the ground. In his interview, he also criticized the lack of awareness from the Castles N’ Coasters employees. Had the female operator noticed him outside the cart, the man says she could’ve done “something” like use the emergency release. Ultimately, he thinks his split decision saved his life.
Despite not wanting to be identified, cell phone footage captured the moment the man climbed out of the roller coaster cart. He told 12News that the worst part of the incident was that a kid could’ve been in his place.
“I think the worst part is having the kids there and knowing it could have been one of them,” he said. “It shouldn’t cost your life to have fun.”
Additionally, the man spoke about Arizona becoming stricter with amusement park regulations. However, the state actually doesn’t regulate its parks at all. Instead, the state requires that amusement parks get their roller coasters inspected every year by a private or insurance company.
“100 percent needs to change. I think all amusement parks that basically have people’s lives in their hands need to be better regulated,” he said. Adding, “I think the scariest part was the negligence of their part and just the absolute carelessness that they had throughout the entire thing.”
The man claimed he filed a report with Castles N’ Coasters but did not get a copy. While it’s unclear if the unidentified man will take the incident to court, a Florida woman did Universal Orlando like that earlier this year. Geriann Clem visited the part in Feb. 2023 with her husband. After riding the roller coaster Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, she claimed to have suffered “severe and personal permanent injuries.” She is seeking a trial by jury but also monetary compensation for damages.
