Visitors at a Texas amusement park faced a terrifying situation when eight riders found themselves stuck near the top of a roller coaster for over three hours. The incident occurred on the Iron Shark roller coaster at Galveston’s Pleasure Pier.

Roller Coaster Stalls

Officials from the Galveston Police Department responded quickly to the malfunction, which took place around 5:35 p.m. on a Thursday. Eight individuals were on the roller coaster when it broke down during its climb up the 100-foot vertical lift hill.

The Galveston Fire Department was called to the scene. They used a ladder truck and safety harnesses to rescue each of the passengers one at a time. This careful operation took approximately three and a half hours to complete.

Field Trip Involved

Among the riders were students from Energized for STEM Academy Middle School and High School who were on a field trip. Houston Independent School District, overseeing these in-district charter schools, confirmed their participation. “We are grateful that all students, staff, and chaperones are safe,” a district statement read.

The district also expressed appreciation for first responders and park staff who ensured everyone’s safety.

Investigation Underway

Pleasure Pier’s COO, Terry Turney, stated that the ride halted as designed to protect passengers. While the exact cause of the malfunction remains unidentified, an inspection will be conducted before the ride is operational again. Turney emphasized the priority placed on guest safety during the incident.