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Six Flags St. Louis: Four Injured In Roller Coaster Malfunction

By Patricia Ramirez
Published on: 12:41 PST, May 7, 2016

Four people were injured on Friday morning at Six Flags St. Louis after the roller coaster they were riding came to an unexpected mid-ride stop. The four people were riding the Boomerang, which came to an abrupt and unanticipated halt at around 11:30 a.m. on May 6. According to Six Flags, none of the injuries were life-threatening. However, the four Six Flags guests were taken to a local hospital for evaluation after the incident.

“Boomerang did not complete its normal ride cycle causing it to stop at a mid-point location where all guests safely exited.”

The Boomerang roller coaster attraction at Six Flags in St. Louis opened in June of 2013. It is described by Six Flags as a “125-foot tall ride, that sends passengers through 1,650-feet of track at speeds up to 50 miles per hour.”

According to Six Flags, the Boomerang ride is now being repaired. Six Flags of St. Louis released a statement indicating that the roller coaster would be re-opening in the future, reports the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

“The safety of our guests is our top priority and the ride will be closed for a thorough inspection before re-opening.”

At the time of the Boomerang roller coaster malfunction, the St. Louis Six Flags location was closed for regular business. However, the Six Flags St. Louis park was open on a limited basis for a school field trip. It is presumed that the four injured park goers were participating in that event, reports Fox 4. The students attending the field trip to Six Flags St. Louis were at the park as a reward for their good academic performance, according to reports.

In addition to being open to high-performing students during Friday’s roller coaster malfunction, the Six Flags St. Louis location was open to an array of elementary, middle school, and high school choir groups. At the time of the incident, a music festival was also taking place at the Six Flags location. Other students attending the Six Flags St. Louis park during the off-season were there for “Outdoor Classroom Days,” reports Fox 2 News. All of the students in attendance had access to the Six Flags park’s games, rides, and Palace Gardens Area.

No official update has been released by Six Flags St. Louis or those injured at the park following the release of the four injured guests. Initially, though, the Six Flags location called the transport of the injured to a local hospital a “precautionary measure.” Six Flags also told the media that the initial first aid received by the injured was at the hands of the Six Flags St. Louis First Aid Staff, which responded to the malfunctioning ride and injured guests immediately.

According to Six Flags St. Louis, the safety of visitors to the park, which has yet to officially open for the season, is paramount. Therefore, the Boomerang roller coaster will be closed for some time to come. Six Flags St. Louis also promised a “thorough inspection” of the ride before it re-opens for the upcoming summer amusement park season.

On the Six Flags St. Louis website, the Boomerang roller coaster is privy to some serious accolades. It is a roller coaster described as pulling riders backward, to the pinnacle of a 125-foot high hill. At that point, riders are then released to endure the Six Flags Boomerang track, which consists of 1,650 feet of track and accelerates up to 50 MPH.

All of those injured on the Six Flags St. Louis Boomerang ride reportedly sustained only minor injuries, and are expected to make a full recovery. No word has been released regarding whether or not injured riders were compensated for their terrifying encounter with the Six Flags St. Louis ride.

[Image Courtesy Of Tim Boyle/Getty Images]

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