Roller coaster in Phoenix STALLS and leaves 22 passengers hanging 20 feet above the ground

Hair raising! Roller coaster in Phoenix STALLS and leaves 22 passengers hanging 20 feet above the ground for TWO HOURS after getting stuck on a horizontal loop

  • The Phoenix Fire Department said the Desert Storm ride at Castles N´ Coasters got stuck Saturday 
  • Rescue crews were dispatched and were able to escort the riders to safety using a 30 foot ladder
  • Terrifying images show passengers being carried to safety down ladders resting against the tracks
  • There was no immediate word on what caused the Desert Storm roller coaster to freeze up
  • No injuries were reported; passenger Joseph Almarez said: ‘It was scary because we were sitting on the edge’
  • Rider Christopher Almarez added: ‘There were a lot of kids on there that were really terrified. There was actually one kid that I was trying to hold onto because she was so small. She couldn’t hold herself up’ 

Advertisement


A roller coaster in Arizona stalled over the weekend leaving 22 passengers hanging 20 feet above the ground for two hours after it got stuck on a horizontal loop. 

The Phoenix Fire Department said the Desert Storm ride at Castles N´ Coasters got stuck Saturday before rescue crews were dispatched and were able to escort the riders to safety using a 30 foot ladder.

There was no immediate word on what caused the coaster to freeze up. No injuries were reported.

Terrifying images show passengers being carried to safety down ladders resting against the tracks. 

Passenger Joseph Almarez told Fox 10: ‘It was scary because we were sitting on the edge.’  

This photo provided shows responders rescuing people stuck on a roller coaster at Castles N’ Coasters on Saturday

The Phoenix Fire Department said the ride got stuck Saturday, with riders perched 20 feet off the ground

The Phoenix Fire Department said the ride got stuck Saturday, with riders perched 20 feet off the ground

Rescue crews were dispatched and were able to escort 22 people off the ride safely

Rescue crews were dispatched and were able to escort 22 people off the ride safely

The park's website says of the ride: 'Test your senses and courage as you challenge the excitement of the vertical drops, spins, and flips of the awesome Desert Storm Roller Coaster'

The park’s website says of the ride: ‘Test your senses and courage as you challenge the excitement of the vertical drops, spins, and flips of the awesome Desert Storm Roller Coaster’

Rider Christopher Almarez added: ‘There were a lot of kids on there that were really terrified. There was actually one kid that I was trying to hold onto because she was so small. She couldn’t hold herself up.

‘They had to unlock the thing to hold us on. They had to unlock it, but they were holding us and helping us get on the ladder to get back down.’ 

Joseph Almarez, 12, said: ‘I almost fell. It was scary because we didn’t go down one ladder. We had to jump from ladder to ladder.’

Phoenix Fire said in a statement: ‘Firefighters set up a High Angle Belay System to lower each rider down. 

‘Every person was fitted with a ‘Pick-off Harness’ and ‘Cinch Collar.’  

Phoenix Fire Capt. Todd Keller said of the passengers: ‘A couple of them were shaken up, but overall they were in good spirits.

The park’s website says of the ride: ‘Test your senses and courage as you challenge the excitement of the vertical drops, spins, and flips of the awesome Desert Storm Roller Coaster.’ 

There was no immediate word on what caused the Desert Storm roller coaster to freeze up. No injuries were reported

There was no immediate word on what caused the Desert Storm roller coaster to freeze up. No injuries were reported

Passenger Joseph Almarez told Fox 10 : 'It was scary because we were sitting on the edge. Christopher Almarez added: 'There were a lot of kids on there that were really terrified. There was actually one kid that I was trying to hold onto because she was so small. She couldn't hold herself up'

Passenger Joseph Almarez told Fox 10 : ‘It was scary because we were sitting on the edge. Christopher Almarez added: ‘There were a lot of kids on there that were really terrified. There was actually one kid that I was trying to hold onto because she was so small. She couldn’t hold herself up’