Global Courant
A North Carolina amusement park closed one of its roller coasters on Friday after a crack was found in a support beam
This image from a video by Joey Mtnjunkie Puig shows a crack in a mainstay of the Fury 325 ride as a roller coaster rolls by at Carowinds amusement park in North Carolina on Friday, June 30, 2023. (Joey Mtnjunkie Puig via AP)
The associated press
CHARLOTTE, NC — A North Carolina amusement park closed one of its roller coasters on Friday after a crack was found in a support beam.
According to news reports, Carowinds shut down Fury 325. The park’s website advertises the ride as the “tallest, fastest, longest giga coaster in North America” entering both North Carolina and South Carolina.
Video from the ride showed the beam bending, its top visibly loose, as cars carrying passengers whizzed by.
“Safety is our top priority and we appreciate the patience and understanding of our valued guests during this process,” Carowinds officials said in a statement. “As part of our extensive safety protocols, all rides, including Fury 325, undergo daily inspections to ensure proper operation and structural integrity.”
Fury 325 first opened to the public in 2015 and cost about $30 million to build, according to news reports.
Carowinds did not say how long it would take to repair the ride. The rest of the park will remain open.
