Rider describes bump on Six Flags Great Adventure roller coaster that left 14 injured
Six Flags reported witnesses hearing a loud bang and seeing jolting from the El Toro roller coaster as it was in operation.
JACKSON TWP., New Jersey (WPVI) -- Visitors at Six Flags Great Adventure were unable to ride the El Toro rollercoaster on Friday after an incident the night before shut it down.
New Jersey state inspectors were on site looking into the problem that injured 14 people.
Six Flags boasts on its website that El Toro is one of the best wooden rollercoasters in the world with a 176-foot drop and speeds up to 70mph. It says "This beast bucks wildly, so hang on tight!"
"It's my favorite coaster in the park," said Holly Core of Bensalem, Pa. "At least it was."
Core was on the ride Thursday night when El Toro apparently bucked a little too hard. She felt a bump, almost like hitting a pothole.
"I knew something was wrong because I've ridden that roller coaster so many times," Core said.
It turns out, something was wrong. Fourteen riders were hurt after the reported bump. Five of those people had to be taken to the hospital with injuries to their neck, back, mouth and tongue.
Core heard some of those complaints as she was getting off.
"Some people said, 'I bit my tongue, I think my tongue's bleeding.' I heard someone say their back was hurting," Core said.
Six Flags told Action News on Friday that all the people injured have been released from the hospital.
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs said there were reports of a 'loud bang' and a 'jolting' during operations. They aren't sure yet what caused it.
This incident comes after the ride had to be shut down last year when it derailed. It didn't reopen again until this year.
That ride will once again remain closed while it is inspected. Some park goers told Action News they hope Six Flags keeps a closer eye on the ride.
"It's concerning," said Nick Dimuro of Whiting, N.J. "Maybe they need to do some more checks beforehand to keep it from happening."
