Cable on US amusement park ride snaps, hurting 2

In this May 4, 2006, file photo, people ride the Skyhawk, at Cedar Point amusement park, in Sandusky, Ohio. AP

SANDUSKY, United States— An Ohio amusement park ride that swings riders as high as 125 feet (38 meters) has been closed indefinitely after a cable snapped, injuring two visitors.

Cedar Point spokesman Bryan Edwards said a cable on one of the Skyhawk ride’s carriages disconnected late Saturday. One rider was treated at a hospital and released. The other person was treated at the scene, the park said.

A man who said he was near the ride when the accident occurred at about 10 p.m. reported hearing “something whip, then bang and screaming.”

Kevin Gregg of Barnegat, New Jersey, operator of an online amusement park fan site called Themeparkmaniacs.com, told The Plain Dealer of Cleveland newspaper that the ride slowed down to a stop with riders screaming.

Gregg said the cable damaged the fence in front of the ride where spectators often stand and watch. He said he was back at Cedar Point on Sunday and rides were operating normally, except for Skyhawk.

Skyhawk has two giant arms that swing riders at speeds up to 60 mph (96 kph). The park says the ride was closed temporarily in 2013 for an unrelated reason.

Edwards said Skyhawk will remain closed until an investigation into the cause of the accident is completed.

He said in a statement: “Safety is our top priority.”

Cedar Point in Sandusky is the flagship park of Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., the fourth-largest US amusement park company.