A roller coaster in Texas stopped mid-ascent Thursday night, leaving eight passengers stranded nearly 100 feet in the air.
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The Iron Shark roller coaster at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier stopped midway, leaving passengers stranded on the slope for several hours.
Video from passengers inside the vehicle shows them sitting in two rows of four, facing the sky, just before they reach the top of the vehicle.
According to NBC affiliate KPRC 2 in Houston, the roller coaster passengers were traveling outdoors. The event was hosted by two Houston-area charter schools, Energized for STEM Academy Middle School and STEM Academy High School, KPRC 2 reports.
Fire Chief Mike Barrera Jr. said in a news conference that crews arrived around 5:30 p.m. to rescue the passengers. One by one, the riders were fitted with safety harnesses, guided to the truck’s basket and lowered to the ground.
“Once they got there, you know, they were able to use their skills to calm everyone down and reassure them that the equipment that was being used was going to keep them safe,” Barrera said.
Varela said the riders were “shaken up” but “at the same time happy when their feet hit the ground.”
A spokesperson for the city of Galveston said in a statement that everyone was brought down safely.
“The Galveston Fire Department safely extracted the last person shortly after 9 p.m.,” a spokesperson said.
Varela noted that the most important part was transferring the students from the roller coaster to the fire truck baskets because of the risk of dehydration due to exposure to the sun.
“We have to be very careful, especially the rescuers who were in the basket at the time,” he said.
“The ride experienced a breakdown during its initial ascent,” Pleasure Pier Chief Operating Officer Terry Turney said in a statement.
“However, as designed, we immediately stopped to ensure everyone’s safety. Our focus quickly shifted to the safety of our eight guests,” Turney said.
“As such, we requested the assistance of the fire department to ensure all guests were safely removed from the ride. A thorough inspection of the ride is currently underway. We cannot thank the fire department enough for their quick response and assistance.”
The Iron Shark roller coaster reaches speeds of up to 52 mph and travels along a 4,246-foot track, according to Pleasure Pier’s website. This steel roller coaster also features a 100-foot vertical drop.
“The crew today was top notch,” Barrera said. “I can’t say enough about them. They’re well-trained and ready to go when called.”
