Amusement park ride snaps in half, injuring more than 20 as horrified onlookers run for cover: video
State media said 23 people were injured, four of them seriously, when the 360 Big Pendulum ride suddenly snapped in half and the illuminated spinning wheel carrying passengers careened toward the earth.
3 The 360 Big Pendulum ride at Green Mountain Park in Taif, Saudi Arabia suddenly snapped in half Wednesday, injuring 23 people.
ABC7
The nightmarish incident took place last week at Green Mountain Park in Taif near the country's western coast, located around 175 miles east of the Red Sea.
Video posted on social media shows the ride rapidly swinging back and forth as it spins strapped-in passengers moments before the ride broke with a chilling metallic snap and crunching sound. The person shooting the footage and others back away from the wreckage, video shows.
3 Four of those injured were brought to a local hospital in critical condition.
ABC7
Witnesses said some of the injuries happened when the ride's central support pole rapidly recoiled after the wheel became unmoored, which was at a more than 90-degree angle relative to the ground at the time.
Miraculously, the wheel righted itself as it fell and landed relatively flatly, which could account for nobody ending up dead as local media reported.
The injured riders were treated by the Saudi Red Crescent Authority at the scene, which several witnesses described as 'chaotic.' The injured were then taken to a nearby hospital.
3 The park has been ordered closed while officials conduct an investigation, including checking other rides for safety issues.
ABC7
In a statement, the Al-Hada regional government said the governor of Taif, Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Saud Bin Abdulaziz, ordered the park closed as an investigation gets underway, which will include assessing other rides for safety concerns.
Green Mountain Park wasn't the only amusement park to experience a disaster this summer.
Last month, a 9-year-old girl drowned in a wave pool at Hersheypark's water park in Pennsylvania.
Horrified witnesses said they saw lifeguards drag the 'limp' third-grader from the pool after she appeared to have gone into distress, performing CPR on her for several minutes.
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