Jeremy Wagner was filming the Fury 325 roller coaster at the Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina when he noticed a large crack that caused a support beam to visibly move out of place as a passenger-filled car sped past.
Wagner posted a video of the incident to Facebook on Friday night, explaining that the support beam appeared to move two to four feet when the car sped past him.
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According to NBC News affiliate WCNC, Wagner reported the issue to guest services at Carowinds amusement park.
Carowinds has since released a statement confirming the Fury 325 has been shut down for repairs and a 'thorough investigation' will take place.
“Carowinds today closed Fury 325 after park personnel became aware of a crack at the top of a steel support pillar. The park’s maintenance team is conducting a thorough inspection and the ride will remain closed until repairs have been completed,” the statement read.
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“Safety is our top priority and we appreciate the patience and understanding of our valued guests during this process. As part of our comprehensive safety protocols, all rides, including Fury 325, undergo daily inspections to ensure their proper functioning and structural integrity.”
The ride will remain closed indefinitely until the issue is resolved.
After hearing about the crack on the news, a woman named Tiffany Collins Newton posted a photo of the sunset behind the Fury on June 24 on Facebook.
She also posted a closeup photo of what appears to be the crack beginning to form.
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“Looks like it had just started,” she said in her Facebook post.
“Or am I crazy?! Someone’s going to be in big trouble, yikes ... ”
“Things happen,” she continued.
“I just hope this leads to MORE inspections and extensive safety checks in the future. Thank God nothing bad came of it and no one was injured before this was caught.”
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According to WCNC, the Fury 325 was investigated in 2015 after the ride unexpectedly stopped at the top of one of its steepest drops. Carowinds also closed the Copperhead Strike rollercoaster in 2019 after a passenger suffered a thumb injury.
The Carowinds’ website describes the Fury 325 as the 'tallest, fastest, longest giga coaster in North America.'
"Fury 325 is North America’s longest steel coaster, and is over 1.25 miles long. The average ride time is 3.25 minutes, and the ride crosses both North and South Carolina state lines," the site says.
Topics: Theme Park, News