Theme park-goers left spinning out of control after ride gets stuck in reverse

01 August 2023 , 05:36

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Theme park-goers left spinning out of control after ride gets stuck in reverse

Theme park-goers at Rye Playland on the outskirts of New York City, were left "traumatised" after a ride got stuck in reverse for 10 minutes. Thrill seekers hoping to get an adrenaline rush on the ride at the popular theme park said they were left terrified after the ride malfunctioned.

Fans keen to experience the Music Express ride in Rye (just outside of New York City) faced a rollercoaster of emotions, after what was meant to be fun jaunt turned into a ride from hell. The ride became stuck and ended up spinning far longer than intended leaving ride goers terrified.

(kinggee_654/TikTok)

Making the malfunction even more unpleasant, as the ride was designed to go backwards, ride-goers were stuck in reverse as they continued to spin. The ride, which has been a firm favourite at the beloved park since it was first unveiled over four decades ago back in 1981, usually lasts three-to-four minutes, however, the malfunction reportedly saw it spin for nearly 10 minutes. ABC News reported that one visitor said those 10 minutes "felt like an eternity".

Giovanni Martinez-Roman's cousin was on the ride on July 23 when it malfunctioned and began to keep spinning in reverse. He told of his family's ordeal on his TikTok page. The New York Post reported that ride operators initially tried to use the emergency stop to make the ride come to a halt but it didn't work. Other videos show onlookers shouting "that's a lawsuit" and "this is why you don't go on these rides".

(kinggee_654/TikTok)

(kinggee_654/TikTok)

Maintenance workers then managed to force it to stop by switching off power to the ride. Some ride-goers looked furious as they stepped off the attraction, while others appeared tearful. Jeff Davis, Rye Playland's general manager, reportedly told News12 Westchester: "Safety is our number one priority and as such, the Music Express ride is currently closed as we work closely with the manufacturer."

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He continued: "It went through its normal inspection on Sunday morning and ran throughout the day without incident until that 8:30 p.m. time." No injuries were reported as a result of the incident. Rye Playland was first opened in 1928 and was America's first planned amusement park.

The Mirror has contacted Rye Playland for comment.

Chloe Stewart