Stuck Riders Safely Removed From Universal Studios Roller Coaster After Technical Glitch

The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit became stuck at the top of the first incline

Twelve riders who were stuck on the Universal Studios roller coaster Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit were safely removed from the attraction Wednesday night.

They were freed after being trapped for more than two hours after the ride stopped just after 7 p.m., WESH reported.

They were stuck in a train at the top of the first incline – due to a technical glitch, theme park spokesman Tom Schroder said in a statement.

"The roller coaster's safety system brought the ride safely to a stop, exactly as it is designed to do," Schroder said.

The passengers on the other parts of the ride were the first to be taken off safely, he said.

But the final train was stuck in a vertical position, more than 150 feet from the ground.

Orlando Fire Rescue responded, and the train was moved forward to a horizontal position. The stuck riders were then able to get off their train and take an elevator down.

No serious injuries were reported. Schroder told The Associated Press that one woman complained of neck pain and went to the hospital as a precaution.

The rescue took so long because park officials wanted to take their time and do it safely, Schroder said.

"We spent a lot of that time talking to them (the passengers) and trying to make them as comfortable as we could," he said.

One guest received a minor injury on the ride in August, prompting the roller coaster to be shut down for more than a day, WESH reported.

The attraction was also closed for a month in 2010 after a manufacturer issued a warning about the Rip Ride Rockit’s safety bars, according to WESH.

Universal Studios and NBC 6 South Florida are owned by the same parent company, NBCUniversal.

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Copyright AP - Associated Press
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