A roller coaster accident resulted in a person plunging to their death and several others falling from atop the ride.
The incident unfolded at Gröna Lund, Sweden’s oldest amusement park in June, before the eyes of thrill-seekers as the front of the roller coaster train appeared to jump off the tracks, abruptly coming to a halt with one car tilting dangerously toward the ground, witnesses recounted.
According to reports, a total of nine people, including three children, were rushed to the hospital in addition to the fatality caused by the derailment. Ziba Assadi, an eyewitness, vividly described the harrowing scene, stating, “Then the car stops and people fly out — fall out of the car.” Fortunately, the injuries sustained by the children were minor, but one adult was in serious condition.
Gröna Lund’s CEO, Jan Eriksson, expressed deep sorrow during a press conference, referring to it as a “day of mourning” for the park. The front part of the train derailed and came to a stop at a height of about 20 to 25 feet, Eriksson explained. Of the 14 people on board, one tragically lost their life, and several others suffered injuries.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing two or three passengers being ejected from the car, with one person gripping onto the track. Disturbing photos of the scene showed a man perched on a beam below the halted train. Assadi recalled the panic that ensued, sharing, “So he sits there straddling [the beam] and waits. There was complete panic.” She also observed a wheel assembly from one of the cars crashing to the ground.
Jenny Lagerstedt, a journalist present at the park with her family, described hearing a metallic noise and witnessing the track shake just before the accident occurred. The 2600-foot-long roller coaster has a maximum height of 98 feet and a top speed of 56 mph.
In response to the incident, authorities have initiated a criminal investigation to determine if charges such as involuntary manslaughter are warranted. Gröna Lund, in Stockholm, has been evacuated and will remain closed for a week to allow investigators to thoroughly examine the cause of the accident.
