On the evening of June 25, 2023, terror struck Gröna Lund amusement park in Sweden as a roller coaster partially derailed, killing one person and injuring nine others, sending them all to the hospital. Three of those that were injured were children. The unfortunate accident occurred at about 20-25 feet high.
Witnesses reported the scene with shuddering detail. Jenny Lagerstedt, a journalist there with her family, heard a metallic noise and saw the track shaking before the tragedy. Though panicked, her husband saw a roller coaster car with people falling to the ground, and her children were naturally scared.
The coaster opened in 1988 before being renovated in 2000. Spanning 2,600 feet, it reaches around 98 feet at its highest point and can reach speeds of 56 mph. As a result of the accident, local authorities opened a criminal investigation while Gröna Lund was closed for seven days to investigate the site.
It goes without saying that safety should be the number one priority of any amusement park. A spokesperson from the park issued a statement noting their commitment to safety, assuring the public that everything is and will only be opened with confidence in its safety.