A man was critically injured and hospitalized after being hit by a rollercoaster at the Kings Island amusement park in Ohio on Wednesday. The incident happened at around 8pm when a 38-year-old man entered a restricted area near the rollercoaster.
According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, the Mason Police Department responded to a call concerning the Banshee roller coaster at Kings Island, in Mason, on Wednesday night, with officers saying that the report concerned “a subject down on the ground in one of the restricted areas,” adding that the victim was hit at “68 mph.
ABC Cincinnati affiliate WCPO reported that a witness said the man told a park employee he had lost something on the ride and needed to go back to get it. The employee reportedly said he would not be able to do anything until the ride closed, but the man continued to wander in the ride’s vicinity and eventually passed through a restricted gate. He appeared to be similarly dressed to other employees so people thought he worked at the park, or was a manager.
The victim was determined to have suffered a critical injury and was transported to a local hospital after which he was transferred to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment. Arepresentative for the park wrote in an emailed statement: “On Wednesday at approximately 8:00 p.m., a guest entered a restricted, fenced area of the Banshee roller coaster and is believed to have been struck by the ride. The park’s safety and first aid personnel responded immediately to the situation and contacted local emergency responders. Kings Island’s focus continues to be on the welfare of the guest and his family. There is no additional information to share at this time.”
As of Thursday morning, police said the man remained in critical condition. This incident is currently under investigation by the Mason Police Department in coordination with Kings Island, while the ride remained closed as of Thursday afternoon. Kings Island has been open for half a century and is described on its website as “the premier entertainment destination in the Midwest.” The amusement and water park is spread out across 364 acres, a half-hour drive from downtown Cincinnati.
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