6 hospitalized, 2 fall from 34 feet in roller coaster derailment, fire officials say
Injuries reported in Daytona Beach
By Michelle Ganley
June 14, 2018
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Two people fell to the ground from 34 feet in the air, when a roller coaster derailed on the Daytona Beach Boardwalk, fire officials said Thursday night.
In total, 10 riders were extricated and six of those people were taken to a hospital. Two were transported as trauma alerts to Halifax Health.
At last check, a fire crew was still in the process of rescuing riders.
The accident took place at the amusement park in the area, investigators said.
The Sand Blaster, the Boardwalk's first and only roller coaster, opened there in 2013, but by that time, it was more than 35 years old and had run at at least four other locations in Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Delaware, according to The Ultimate Rollercoaster database.
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Roller coaster derails in Daytona Beach, throws 2 riders 34 feet to the ground
10 riders extricated in Daytona Beach after Sand Blaster malfunctions
By Michelle Ganley
June 15, 2018
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Two people fell to the ground from 34 feet in the air, when a roller coaster derailed on the Daytona Beach Boardwalk, fire officials said Thursday night.
The accident happened on the Sand Blaster roller coaster.
In total, 10 riders were extricated from the ride and six of those people were taken to a hospital. Two were transported as trauma alerts to Halifax Health.
The 10 riders were on board a chain of three cars, said Sasha Staton, of the Daytona Beach Fire Department.
Two of those riders fell out of the front car, which was left dangling, officials said.
Firefighters used ladders and tech rescue equipment to get to some of the passengers, Staton said.
The scene was chaotic, as many people were in the area at the time that the ride derailed, crews said. Many riders were frightened, and the firefighters did an excellent job keeping people calm, Staton said.
The accident took place at the amusement park in the Boardwalk area, investigators said.
The roller coaster company -- Daytona Beach Boardwalk Amusement Rides Inc., according to records -- also runs rides in North Carolina and South Carolina, along with a traveling carnival, according to published reports.