How long has it been since you went to an amusement park? When I was a child, I was lucky enough to go to an amusement park in my city very frequently and spend entire days there, going from one ride to another. As I grew up (cursed be the day I grew up), I continued to go, although less and less often, and I was able to ride attractions that were off-limits for younger kids, like the spectacular roller coaster. However, every time I got on, the same intrusive thought would come to mind: “What if this breaks?”
It seems that the owners of an amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina (United States), didn’t have that same thought, as their roller coaster was closed a few days ago after discovering a massive crack in one of the pillars of the ride.
Fury 325, named after its towering height of 325 feet (99 meters) at its highest point, was closed “after park staff noticed a crack at the top of a steel support pillar,” according to the attraction’s personnel. If we consider an ordinary visitor as “park staff,” then we assume they are telling the truth.
Interestingly, the crack was actually discovered by Jeremy Wagner, a family father who visited the amusement park that day with his daughter, son, niece, and his son’s friend. After his own 14-year-old daughter rode the roller coaster a total of 8 times, Wagner noticed a significant crack in one of the pillars.
With trembling hands, Wagner recorded a video that clearly shows the crack completely separating the pillar of the roller coaster, causing the upper half to briefly shift to the side as the train approaches. The train carries dozens of passengers on each ride and can reach speeds of up to 95 miles per hour (153 kilometers per hour).
Now, Fury 325, known as the “longest giga coaster in North America,” will remain closed until the amusement park staff can fully repair the crack. Fortunately, no major damages or injuries have been reported.
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