A visitor's sharp eye at Carowinds amusement park in North Carolina potentially averted a catastrophic incident on the Fury 325 giga roller coaster. Jeremy Wagner's Facebook video revealed a substantial crack in a support pillar while the ride was in operation, echoing the tragic 2017 Fireball incident at the Ohio State Fair. Ride safety expert Ken Martin emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating the Fury 325 was undoubtedly on the brink of a major failure.
Martin suspects rust and a separation of welded metal components within the support pillar contributed to the dangerous defect. Carowinds has responded swiftly, announcing that the ride's manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers Inc. (B&M), is creating a replacement column. Upon installation, the coaster will undergo rigorous testing, including accelerometer analysis and 500 operational cycles with continuous inspections. A third-party inspection firm and B&M will conduct a final evaluation before the ride reopens.
Carowinds is also implementing enhanced safety protocols, including drone inspections of hard-to-reach areas. This follows a recent North Carolina Department of Labor inspection in February, which only flagged minor signage issues. The incident underscores the critical importance of vigilant observation and proactive maintenance in ensuring amusement park safety.
The Fury 325, renowned as North America's tallest, fastest, and longest giga coaster, reaches speeds of 95 mph and boasts a 325-foot peak height followed by a steep 81-degree drop. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in connection with the cracked support pillar.
