Sheikra ReOpened At Busch Gardens After It Stalled With Riders On Board

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Sheikra is back open at Busch Gardens in Tampa after the roller coaster stopped Thursday with 64 passengers on board.

The roller coaster reopened to riders at the amusement park Monday morning, park officials announced.

Just before 6 p.m. Thursday, the ride stopped, stranding 64 riders 200 feet up in the air. Riders were evacuated after the roller coaster stopped suddenly with a car stuck on a steep incline.

The roller coaster was stopped in two places — one just before the 90 degree drop and the other on the climb to the top.

Park officials said right before the coaster cars that got stuck left the boarding area, the ride was determined to be safe. However, something caused the cars to stop at the top of the ride.

Crews have been inspecting the ride and performing checks since the ride stalled.

The park released a statement about the coaster on Monday:

“Out of an abundance of caution, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay conducted additional testing on its Sheikra roller coaster to confirm the ride is operating as designed,” the statement read. “The testing is now complete, and Sheikra is operational and will be open for guests today, May 16. Busch Gardens is pleased that our safety systems performed as designed and that all guests were able to safely disembark from the ride. The safety of guests and team members is Busch Gardens’ number one priority and our employees train regularly for conditions just like this. All ride attractions are inspected daily by trained technicians to ensure they are operating properly. Ride safety systems are designed that when a shutdown does occur, it is an indication that these systems are working.”

Amusements parks can be pretty dangerous when you think about it. Even when rides are working properly there is always some type of risk to riders. However, when a ride malfunctions, the chances of something bad happening drastically increases. While Busch Gardens has a pretty decent track record when it comes to safety, just one error can place innocent lives in jeopardy.

The good news is that no one was harmed in this incident at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. This is not always the case when a roller coaster mishap occurs. If anyone was seriously harmed or killed, depending on the situation, Busch Gardens could have been liable for the accident.

If you have been injured at a theme park, carnival or on a roller coaster that was the direct result of the business owner’s failure to maintain a safe environment, our Tampa Bay Roller Coaster Accident Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you understand if you have a valid injury claim. You could be entitled to monetary damages to help compensate you for your medical expenses and pain and suffering. To learn more, call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online to request a free consultation.

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