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Park Ride Again Strands Passengers 300 Feet in Air

Malfunctions for 2nd time this month

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 20, 2012 10:42 AM CDT

(Newser) – Thrill seekers might want to hold off on trying one especially thrilling California theme park ride: The Windseeker at Knott's Berry Farm has malfunctioned twice this month, leaving passengers dangling for hours. Yesterday, 20 riders were stuck for three and a half hours, 300 feet off of the ground, the Orange County Register reports. "It basically got stuck," says a rep. Crews finally lowered the ride. No one was reported hurt.

Just a few weeks before, 15 riders were stuck on the ride for three hours; crews had to manually bring the ride to its highest point before lowering it. The problem, in that case, was apparently not with the ride itself: Authorities blamed a faulty reading of an electrical safety switch. The year-old ride has been closed for an investigation. It's not the first such story this summer.

People on the Windseeker ride at Knott's Berry Farm are stuck a few hundred feet off the ground Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, in Buena Park, Calif.
People on the Windseeker ride at Knott's Berry Farm are stuck a few hundred feet off the ground Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, in Buena Park, Calif.   (AP Photo/The Orange County Register, Rod Veal)
People on the Windseeker ride at Knott's Berry Farm are stuck a few hundred feet off the ground Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, in Buena Park, Calif.
People on the Windseeker ride at Knott's Berry Farm are stuck a few hundred feet off the ground Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, in Buena Park, Calif.   (AP Photo/The Orange County Register, Rod Veal)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
summerfairy
Sep 21, 2012 8:52 AM CDT
"crews had to manually bring the ride to its highest point before lowering it." Hey, the contract says they only have to crank it down.  Cranking it up requires a new contract with a raise.
summerfairy
Sep 21, 2012 8:50 AM CDT
starts singing "look for the union label"
midget_farmers
Sep 21, 2012 8:11 AM CDT
that ride is the lamest ride on the planet.... Cedar Fair made a huge mistake going with the cheap knock off version of this in all their parks... Its a shame as Cedar Fair parks are really good parks but the wind seeker SUCKS!!!!!
 

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