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El Toro Roller Coaster Shuts Down After Derailment
According to the NJ State Department of Community Affairs they gave temporarily shut down a popular roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure after the ride partially derailed earlier this week.
DCA Spokeswoman Lisa Ryan said El Toro, a 19-story tall wooden coaster, partially derailed at 4:23 p.m. on Tuesday when the “rear-up stop wheel” that prevents the train from lifting came up on top of the rail.
The ride is under engineering review and has been "red tagged" meaning it is prohibited from operation until further investigation. It is not yet determined what caused the incident.
El Toro opened to the public on June 11, 2006.
“El Toro will not reopen until DCA is provided with a report by the ride manufacturer indicating what caused the derailment as well as how to mitigate the issue,” she said.
A spokeswoman for the Jackson theme park, Kristin Fitzgerald, denied that the carts derailed. “The train’s safety systems worked as designed and the train remained on the track,” Fitzgerald said.
Video of the incident posted to YouTube showed a train of six empty cars stopped on the tracks just ahead of an incline. People were on the ride during the mishap, but Fitzgerald said no guests were hurt.
The derailment comes two weeks another mishap at the park. On June 13, a boat on the Saw Mill Log Flume ride healed over, but did not capsize, as it rushed down the water-filled flume, leading to the suspension of the ride’s operations. Two guests were taken to a local hospital for observation.
Asked Wednesday for an update on the long flume, Fitzgerald stated, “the ride is currently closed and will reopen following a full safety inspection by both internal and external experts.”
