Maryland roller coaster gets stuck; 24 rescued
This image provided by Prince George's County Fire Dept. shows firefighters reaching riders stranded on a roller coaster at Six Flags America in Upper Marlboro, Md., Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014. (AP Photo/Prince George's County Fire Dept., Marc Bashoor)
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — Authorities say 24 people stranded on a roller coaster have been rescued from near the top of the ride at Six Flags America in Maryland.
Prince George’s County Fire officials say it took about five hours Sunday to rescue 17 adults and seven children from The Joker’s Jinx roller coaster.
Assistant Fire Chief Paul Gomez says the riders were sitting upright. A few had cramps, back pain and dehydration, but there were no major injuries.
A Six Flags America spokesman said in a statement that it is not yet clear what caused the ride to stop but that it has a computerized safety system that “performed as it is designed to.”
Six Flags’ website says the ride goes 60 miles per hour and upside down four times.
