First responders in Virginia rescued 28 people who got stuck on a roller coaster that stopped midride Tuesday evening.
Crews with the James City County Fire Department evacuated riders of the “first of its kind” Griffon coaster at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, and no injuries were reported.
The safety of Busch Gardens employees and guests is the company’s “top priority,” it said in a statement, but Busch Gardens did not indicate the cause of the ride’s stoppage.
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“This evening, the Griffon roller coaster stopped during the ride,” the statement said. “Consistent with our established safety protocols we worked with James City County Fire Department to safely evacuate all guests on the ride. We apologize for the guest inconvenience.”
28 riders assisted off Busch Gardens ride after it stops https://t.co/Dlx2qe31aG #Virginia
— 8News WRIC Richmond (@8NEWS) June 30, 2021
Fire crews did not have to use their ladder truck to retrieve riders as the ride stopped at a spot close to the ground, said Ryan Ashe, the fire department’s chief.
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The park described the Griffon as a “floorless dive roller coaster” that drops 205 feet.
“Griffon was the first of its kind, featuring a drop 90 degrees straight down at 75 miles per hour. It’s a birds’-eye view that you’ll never forget,” according to the park’s website.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Busch Gardens for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
