Riders Stranded on Roller Coaster for Two Hours; Twelve Injured When Car Slams to Stop

Think about being stranded on a roller coaster 10 stories high for two hours. Now think about that not being the worst part of the ride.

After dangling for two hours, the ride started moved slowly toward the ground only to come to a slamming stop on the platform.

A Dozen Passengers Sustained Neck, Back Pain

Twelve passengers on the “Fright Fest” ride at Six Flags America in Largo, Md. complained of neck and back pain when de-boarding a ride they’ll probably never board again. Moments after the ride began, a safety sensor shut the ride down in mid-air, reported WRC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C.

Shaddell Haywood was on board. "Oh my God, I thought I was going to die," she said. Haywood and her boyfriend were stuck on the ride with 24 other passengers. Passengers were strapped with shoulder harnesses in their seats but had no place to rest their feet.

Ride Slams to Stop for Second Time in Two Months

Although rescue workers rushed to the scene, park officials determined it would be best for workers to manually roll the car back to the platform. When they tried, the train came to an abrupt stop, jolting the car and passengers inside. "It was like someone hit you from behind in a car crash," French McGhee said. When the car crashed to a stop, a hydraulic line was punctured, spraying fluid on passengers.

It was the second time in two months the ride stranded passengers before coming to a sudden stop. For now, it’s shut down while state inspectors investigate. Some riders doubt if it should re-open. "It's negligence and someone needs to be held accountable," said Haywood, who bruised her shoulder on impact.