Power Outage Strands Arkansas Coaster Passengers Upside Down

Visitors to Magic Springs & Crystal Falls amusement park in Hot Springs, Ark., got an unexpected twist as they hopped aboard the park's famed X-Coaster on Saturday -- they got stuck upside down nearly 150 feet above the ground. As The Associated Press reports, the X-Coaster was only one of several attractions at the park which came to a standstill following a power outage at the park.

According to KATV, firefighters from the local Hot Springs Fire Department used a ladder truck to pluck 12 to 16 riders from the coaster. On the ground, visitors watching the rescue efforts cheered for those saved from the dangling coaster train.

The X-Coaster is a recent addition to the Hot Springs amusement park. Passengers are hurtled 150 feet into the air, then flipped upside down before cascading into a 360-degree corkscrew roll at speeds topping 65 mph. The steel coaster has been operating at the park since May 27, 2006, according to the Roller Coaster Database online. Costing nearly $4 million, the popular roller coaster is capable of thrilling about 500 riders per hour at the amusement park. The portion of the X-Coaster where riders became stuck upside down is unofficially known as a "Sky Loop."

Angela Salter, a Magic Springs & Crystal Falls amusement park visitor, told The Associated Press, "You could tell who got off the (X-Coaster) because their faces were red." Salter was rescued from another coaster disabled by the power outage.

Although the amusement park remained open following the event, the X-Coaster closed for the day.

The Associated Press reports one X-Coaster rider was taken to St. Joseph Mercy Medical Center with a headache and neck pains. Likewise, as riders were rescued from the coaster train, one passenger threw up following the upside-down ordeal. KATV also reports an X-Coaster passenger was treated for dehydration.

Connie McBride told The Associated Press, "It was very scary... I love this amusement park, but I will never get on the X-Coaster again."