A malfunctioning “tilt” roller coaster left two riders stranded over 100 feet above a Texas amusement park at a 90-degree angle for almost an hour before emergency responders freed them, according to reports.
Matthew Cantu, 24, and Nicholas Sanchez, 20, were riding the thrill attraction, dubbed “Circuit Breakers,” at Austin’s Circuit of the America’s sports complex when it climbed 130-feet and suddenly stalled at the first drop, leaving them staring straight down at the ground Wednesday night, their publicist told KXAN.
“For more than 30 minutes after the ride stopped, family members reported receiving no clear updates, while witnesses said staff provided conflicting explanations, including comments that the riders ‘weren’t strapped in correctly,” the riders’ spokesperson told the outlet via email.
The brand new coaster hauls riders up a steep hill before the track tilts forward on a 90-degree angle, locking into the track below and then plunging them down at speeds of up to 60 mph, the website says.
A park spokesperson said the alarming technical issue was triggered by the ride’s sensor.
“A sensor triggered a ride delay,” the rep told Fox News Digital in a statement.
“It was resolved, and the ride proceeded without incident. As with all amusement attractions of this sort, delays occasionally occur. We regret the inconvenience and are glad that out of the 25,000 people that have ridden the coaster, only two have this badge of courage.”
The terrifying glitch left the two men dangling for 36 minutes before a relative called 911, according to the publicist, who said first responders then arrived about 10 minutes later and retrieved the trapped riders.
Cantu reported feeling “lightheadedness and symptoms consistent with blood pooling” due to the alarming technical issue, with Sanchez allegedly experiencing “numbness in his upper leg,” KXAN reported.
The amusement ride is the first tilt coaster in Texas. It reportedly opened for preview rides in October ahead of its grand debut next year.
Meanwhile, over in Cedar Point, another tilt roller coaster called “Siren’s Curse” has repeatedly malfunctioned since opening at the Ohio amusement park in late June.
The coaster, which features a 160-foot lift hill and hits speeds of 58 mph over a two-minute thrill ride, reportedly hit a snag when a power outage brought it to a screeching halt on its very first day of operation.
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