A wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey was shut down Thursday night after a group of riders, five of whom were hospitalized, complained of back pain.
El Toro, a 19-story coaster with a 176-foot drop, was closed for inspection after the injuries were reported Thursday evening, an amusement park spokesperson told the Asbury Park Press. Jackson Township Police officers did not respond, but several first aid teams were dispatched to the scene.
The incident comes a year after the ride was closed down due to a partial derailment on June 29, 2021, according to the newspaper. It was caused by the rear-up wheel — which prevents the train’s cars from toppling — lifting off of the top of the rail. No Six Flags guests were injured, but the popular roller coaster was “red-tagged” and placed under an engineering review by the state Department of Community Affairs.
After months of testing, inspections and reviews, the ride was deemed safe for visitors and reopened earlier this summer.
El Toro, which means “the bull” in Spanish, first opened at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson in 2006. It reaches maximum speeds of 70 miles per hour, and has the second-largest drop height of wooden roller coasters nationwide. Goliath at Six Flags Great America in Chicago has the largest drop height.
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