'Like a giant whip': Ride malfunction frightens amusement parkgoers
Share and Follow


SANDUSKY, Ohio (WJW) What started as a fun Sunday night at an amusement park in Ohio quickly turned into a frightening experience for one parkgoer and his family.

“Me and my two daughters were next in line, standing directly below the drop towers,” Ryan said. “I heard a twing type of sound—like tension being released—and then this giant cable came down. It was like slow motion.”

Ryan said a cable snapped on Cedar Point’s Power Tower a nearly 300-foot-tall vertical drop attraction that towers over the middle of the park.

“I yelled, ‘Oh my God!’ It happened so fast. Then the cable hit the guard tower, and it sounded like the earth was coming to an end. That’s when everyone started freaking out, scattering, and running,” he said.

The park immediately evacuated riders and shut down the attraction. No one was injured.

“That guard shack was 10 feet from us,” Ryan said. “It was very close to being a bad situation.”

According to Cedar Point, a single cable detached from one of the ride vehicles. A spokesperson said the ride’s safety system worked as designed and all guests exited safely.

For many visitors on Monday, the incident was still on their minds.

“That’s scary—you think about what could happen to people on these rides,” parkgoer Katrina Rueberger said. “It also makes you wonder how often they test the rides, inspections and things that need to be done.”

The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Amusement Ride Safety Division said it is investigating the incident.

“ODA’s Amusement Ride Safety Division and its inspectors have placed a Stop Operation Order on the ride and are working with Cedar Point and the ride’s manufacturer to determine the cause of the incident. The Stop Operation Order will be released upon a complete reinspection of the ride,” the department said in a statement on Monday.

The ride will remain closed until a complete reinspection is finished.

“It broke from the top. Whatever the weight of a steel cable falling from 250 feet is, it was like a giant whip. It was scary,” said Ryan.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Two brothers who survived the Parkland shooting hurt after Ybor City crash

Parkland Survivor Brothers Injured in Ybor City Car Accident

In a tragic turn of events on Friday night in Ybor City,…
Trump says he's ending trade talks with Canada over TV ads

House Democrats Unveil Epstein Emails Alleging Ties to Donald Trump: Impact on Political Landscape

Emails referencing Donald Trump from Jeffrey Epstein’s correspondence have been made public…
Olympics icon makes racism claim after having 2024 medal rescinded

Olympic Legend Alleges Racism After 2024 Medal Revocation: A Controversy Unveiled

U.S. Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles has raised serious allegations of racism following…
Montclair Public Schools mishandled bully case: lawsuit

Lawsuit Alleges Montclair Public Schools’ Inadequate Response to Bullying Incident

A lawsuit has been filed against a New Jersey school district, alleging…
Prince William appears to give a sneak peek of Forest Lodge

Prince William Offers Exclusive Glimpse Inside Forest Lodge: A Royal Preview

Prince William recently provided the public with a sneak peek into the…
Grandmother allegedly kills 5-year-old grandson while driving impaired in family driveway

Tragic Driveway Incident: Impaired Grandmother Accused in Heartbreaking Death of 5-Year-Old Grandson

A devastating incident unfolded in Louisiana when a grandmother was taken into…
Passenger finds loaded magazine with mysterious inscription on Atlanta plane; FBI notified

FBI Investigates Loaded Magazine with Enigmatic Inscription Discovered on Atlanta Flight

A routine day at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta took an…
How Cheryl Hines overcame 'pain' of husband RFK Jr.'s sexting scandal

Cheryl Hines Opens Up About Navigating Challenges After RFK Jr.’s Scandal

Cheryl Hines has subtly addressed her husband Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s sexting…