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16 horrified guests of Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida were safely removed from the roller coaster “Cheetah Hunt” after a malfunction left the unwitting passengers stuck in the air for hours. At around 2:30 pm on Wednesday, the rides were going as usual, when there was a malfunction on the Cheetah hunt ride. The car stopped on the tracks, high in the air. Maintenance workers tried unsuccessfully to nudge the car back into the station. The car was stuck for several hours, through brutal thunder and lightning storms.
Safely Removing the Passengers
Finally, Tampa Fire Rescue was called to the park, and the riders were brought to safety using a crane from a ladder truck. It was after 6pm when the last of the passengers was removed from the ride. None of the passengers were injured. Busch Gardens is investigating the malfunction, and the cause of the stopped car has not yet been revealed. A representative for Busch Gardens stated that it is not unusual for a car to stop on the tracks if the safety system detects a possible disturbance. Busch Gardens has not revealed whether special compensation was given to the terrified riders.
The Cheetah Hunt is Busch Gardens longest roller coaster, stretching 4,400 feet. The highest peak of the roller coaster extends 101 feet into the air, although it is unclear if the trapped riders were stuck at this height. The roller coaster is expected to reopen soon, after it has been declared safe by officials.
