Worlds of Fun roller coaster temporarily shut down due to safety violation
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A popular roller coaster at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City has been temporarily shut down due to a safety violation.
On Wednesday, Mike O'Connell with the Missouri Department of Public Safety said that the Division of Fire Safety received an email about safety concerns with the Mamba roller coaster at Worlds of Fun. A woman said she had been at the amusement park a few weeks ago, and her son's lap belt did not lock snugly around the child's waist, according to the email.
On Thursday morning, a Division of Fire Safety (DFS) amusement ride inspector went to the park to conduct an inspection of the roller coaster – and found that multiple lap belts on the ride failed to lock the belt tightly, as required.
O'Connell said more than 20 lap belts were not functioning properly when inspected Thursday morning.
A lap belt or seatbelt's retractor is required to lock the belt tight, according to O'Connell. Due to this safety violation, the inspector shut down the ride.
The ride has been red-tagged and cannot operate until repairs are made and it passes an inspection by DFS, O'Connell told FOX4.
A spokesperson for Worlds of Fun sent the following statement:
"The safety of our guests and team members is a top priority. Following the report of a guest concern on the ride earlier this month, our team immediately closed the ride and completed a thorough inspection before reopening it that evening. The ride is equipped with a multi-layered restraint system, and it has operated safely since the initial concern was raised.
"The ride has undergone a comprehensive safety review, and we have implemented modifications requested by the Fire Marshall to ensure it meets or exceeds all applicable safety standards before it reopens to guests this evening."
The Mamba was last inspected in April, according to O'Connell. During the April inspection, he said no issues were noted.
Amusement rides must be inspected at least once a year by an approved inspector to obtain an operating permit, he said. The operating permits are good for one year.