A roller coaster at an amusement park in Charlotte, NC, was closed Friday after a visitor noticed a large crack in one of the ride’s poles.
Carowinds amusement park said it shut down the coaster, called Fury 325, “after park personnel became aware of a crack at the top of a steel support pillar.”
Park spokeswoman Cortney McGarry Weber said the ride would remain closed while crews made repairs.
Jeremy Wagner, who was visiting the park on Friday with his daughter, son, niece and his son’s friend, recorded video of the crack.
In the footage they recorded, the pillar appears to be separated briefly at the crack, as a coaster car speeds down the track.
Mr Wagner said, “I was trying to shoot the video and my hands were shaking because I knew how quickly this could be devastating.”
Mr. Wagner, who had just bought his children’s season passes for the park, said he recorded the damage done to the parking lot. His 14-year-old daughter had gone on the yatra eight times on Friday, he said.
The 325 feet tall Fury 325 is one of the main attractions of Carowinds.
It can carry dozens of passengers and propel them at speeds of up to 95 mph during rides of over 3 minutes, According to the park’s website.
Carowinds describes the ride as “North America’s Tallest Giga Coaster”, which opened to the public in March 2015. Roller coasters with heights ranging from 300 feet to 399 feet are known as Giga Coasters.
Mr Wagner said he had handed over his footage to park officials before leaving on Friday, but did not find out about the ride closure until he got home.
“I’m grateful they did,” he said. “Even though it’s their No. 1 attraction at the park.”
The rest of Carowinds, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, remained open Saturday and Sunday, according to the park’s website.
