'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
Florida Sex Money Murder gang leader convicted, faces up to 5 life sentences

Florida Gang Leader of ‘Sex Money Murder’ Convicted, Could Receive Five Life Sentences

Officials report that the gang leader skillfully orchestrated operations while steering clear…
Yankees acquiring Ryan Weathers in trade with Marlins

Yankees Bolster Pitching Lineup with Strategic Trade for Ryan Weathers from Marlins

The Yankees have welcomed the offspring of a former team member, though…
Florida sheriff Grady Judd fires off warning to gangsters after 'Sex, Money, Murder' kingpin taken down

Florida Sheriff Grady Judd Issues Stern Warning to Gang Leaders Following Arrest of ‘Sex, Money, Murder’ Ringleader

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – In a decisive victory for law enforcement, Florida…
Minneapolis ICE shooting officer followed training as potentially 'deadly threat' drove at him: former agent

DOJ Declines Civil Rights Probe into Minneapolis ICE Officer Fatal Shooting, Citing Lack of Evidence

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has decided against launching a criminal…
Man sues McDonald's after wife was dragged out of car and killed

Husband Files Lawsuit Against McDonald’s Following Tragic Death of Wife in Car Incident

A heartbroken husband has filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s following the tragic…
Chicago crime: Surveillance video shows 1 of 7 burglaries near CTA Red Line stops in Edgewater, Uptown and West Rogers Park

Wave of Burglaries Hits Chicago’s Red Line: Surveillance Footage Unveils Edgewater, Uptown, and West Rogers Park Incidents

An Edgewater restaurant in Chicago recently fell victim to a theft, where…
College basketball player gunned down on Nashville freeway, police hunting for suspects

Tragic Loss: Nashville Authorities Search for Suspects in Fatal Shooting of College Basketball Star

A tragic incident unfolded on a Nashville freeway as a Tennessee college…
Where are The Thorn Birds cast now?

The Current Lives of The Thorn Birds Cast Members

The 1980s brought us “The Thorn Birds,” a miniseries that captivated audiences…