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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 4 July 2023

Fright over crack on N.C. ride serves as reminder of risks at

amusement parks

By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM, “Hopefully they get it fixed
KIMBERLEE KRUESI and ERIK before the season’s over so
VERDUZCO I can ride it some more,” he
Associated Press said of the broken coast-
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A er. “It’s like the main thing
visible crack in the support here.”
beam of a North Caro- Industry experts have been
lina roller coaster served quick to counter that mil-
as a reminder of the risks lions of Americans hop on
that sometimes arise with roller coasters, Ferris wheels,
amusement park rides, water slides and many oth-
particularly as families and er rides without ever expe-
adrenaline junkies flock to riencing issues. They note
the attractions throughout injury rates are extremely
the summer. low.
Video footage of the Char- A 2021 survey compiled on
lotte-based Carowinds’ behalf of the International
popular Fury 325 known as Association of Amusement
a “Giga coaster” due to Parks and Attractions found
its dramatic height of 325 “0.9 injuries per million
feet (99 meters) showed rides,” said Caitlin Dineen,
a key support beam bend- the group’s spokesperson.
ing with the top visibly de- That year, more than 1,200
tached as cars packed The Fury 325 roller coaster at Carowinds amusement park is seen on Monday, July 3, 2023, in ride-related injuries were
with unsuspecting passen- Charlotte, N.C. reported out of the typical
gers whirled by at speeds Associated Press 1.7 billion rides that take
of up to 95 mph (150 kph). place each year across 400
The park, which straddles bor’s Amusement Device and structural integrity.” track separating from its locations in North America.
the North Carolina and Bureau, confirmed inves- Several Carowinds visitors support beam mid-ride. “Safety is the top priority
South Carolina line, closed tigators “already came said they were aware that “I’m just glad I wasn’t on for the global attractions
the ride late last week as and went” from Carowinds the ride had been closed it because I don’t want to industry,” Dineen said. “An
questions swirled about on Monday but declined for repairs, but they were fall off. I’m glad nobody fell excellent safety record is in
how the crack occurred. to share details about not deterred from enjoying off,” he said. the best interest of the in-
Those answers remained their findings. Meanwhile, the park’s other attractions. While Bledsoe said the vid- dustry, and leaders within
largely unknown as state Carowinds said in a state- Greg Bledsoe, a 22-year- eo was “a bit of a shock,” it are committed to provid-
investigators were on site in ment that all of its rides, old season pass holder, vis- he remains confident in the ing safe and secure attrac-
Monday morning. including Fury 325, are in- ited the park Monday de- park’s overall safety and tions for all their guests and
Tommy Petty, chief of the spected daily “to ensure spite having watched the plans to make good use of visitors.”q
state Department of La- their proper functioning viral video of the Fury 325 his season pass.

Police confirm two more Wichita club shooting victims, bringing

total to 11 hurt

By The Associated Press according to police. Seven two others were trampled victims arrived at hospitals ranged in age from 22 to
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two people were initially listed in the rush to escape. later Sunday with minor in- 34, police said. The two
additional gunshot vic- as injured by gunfire, and Two additional shooting juries, Officer Juan Rebolle- people trampled were a
tims have emerged from do said. All of the victims 30-year-old woman and a
a weekend shooting at a are expected to survive, he 31-year-old male.
Kansas nightclub, bringing said. Detective Chris Merceau
the total number of injured One suspect, a 31-year- said at a news conference
people to 11, Wichita po- old man from Florissant, Sunday morning that police
lice said Monday. Missouri, was arrested on have been called about a
Meanwhile, a St. Louis-area suspicion of aggravated dozen times this year to the
man was arrested in con- criminal battery. He had nightclub, including for a
nection with the shooting, not been formally charged report of aggravated bat-
and police are working to as of late Monday morning. tery and a drive-by shoot-
“identify all individuals in- Shots were fired from at ing on May 21.
volved in the shooting and least four guns inside the He said police met with the
hold them accountable,” club, police said. Four guns club’s owner after the May
according to a news re- were recovered and police shooting and discussed the
lease. A shooting early Sunday morning, July 2, 2023, at City Nightz were working to determine importance of using elec-
Several shooters opened nightclub in Wichita, Kan., left multiple people with gunshot if they were the weapons tronic wands to detect
fire just before 1 a.m. Sun- wounds and a few more people hospitalized after being used by the shooters. weapons on patrons and
day inside the City Nightz trampled in a rush for the exits, police said. The gunshot victims sev- surveillance cameras.q
club in downtown Wichita, Associated Press en men and two women