Moonraker accident: Moonraker ride roller coaster caused injuries and chaos - TomoNews
- 8 years ago
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE — Fourteen people were thrown from a moving ride at a fair in Tennessee after it malfunctioned on Saturday, according to the Associated Press.
The accident happened on the Moonraker at the Delta Fair in Memphis. The ride spins passengers around an axis as it lifts them to a nearly 90-degree angle.
The Moonraker’s onboard computer detected a problem and put the ride into a gradual descent. But the ride’s operator panicked and pressed a button that released the safety bars.
Terrified passengers were left hanging on for their lives as the ride was stuck about 30 feet in the air, and several people fell off.
Shawn Owens told local TV station FOX13 he had three kids on the ride, one of whom is now in the hospital. He said fair officials tried to get the kids to “walk it off.”
The ride will be shut down pending independent inspection.
Eight people were sent to the hospital, including the operator, who’s believed to have had a panic attack.
The accident happened on the Moonraker at the Delta Fair in Memphis. The ride spins passengers around an axis as it lifts them to a nearly 90-degree angle.
The Moonraker’s onboard computer detected a problem and put the ride into a gradual descent. But the ride’s operator panicked and pressed a button that released the safety bars.
Terrified passengers were left hanging on for their lives as the ride was stuck about 30 feet in the air, and several people fell off.
Shawn Owens told local TV station FOX13 he had three kids on the ride, one of whom is now in the hospital. He said fair officials tried to get the kids to “walk it off.”
The ride will be shut down pending independent inspection.
Eight people were sent to the hospital, including the operator, who’s believed to have had a panic attack.