Man Jumps Off A Rollercoaster After Safety Bar Unlocks

This is absolute nightmare fuel for haters of rollercoasters and gives pause to people who love them after a man jumps off a rollercoaster just as it is about to drop from the initial climb. Why? The safety bar unlocked, leaving him unprotected.

The story comes out of Castles N' Coasters in Phoenix, Arizona. An unidentified man was there celebrating his niece's birthday when they decided to ride a rollercoaster called Desert Storm. The rollercoaster, which features two loops, has only a lap safety bar. Quite often, you'll see an over-the-shoulder harness to secure passengers into looping coasters.

The safety check was done haphazardly, the man says. Instead of park staff checking his lap bar to make sure it was secured, they went off of his pushing on the bar. At the start of the coaster, it was locked. But as the coaster made its initial ascent, he happened to push forward again and the safety bar came up.

Video captured the moment as the man panicked and had to make a split second decision: stay on the coaster and risk it or try to bail before the drop. Thankfully, the man jumps off the rollercoaster just in the nick of time before the coaster takes the plunge.

Whoa! How can something so ridiculous occur in 2024? Well, it may have something to do with the laws in Arizona. The Grand Canyon State is one of a handful of states that don't require a state led regulatory committee to ensure the property safety procedures and checks are done (and surprise surprise, Nevada is also on that list). Businesses are left to carry insurance and do their own safety inspections, but that's it.

While the guy did get a refund from the park (and, you know, his life) the man wants the park held accountable for something that caused him trauma and could have ended up far, far worse.

All right y’all. This is serious. I’ve got to be totally real with you right now.

I absolutely LOVE roller coasters.

Now I know what you're thinking. “Okay Sammi, I like roller coasters too. What’s the big deal?” I do not simply like roller coasters. I am passionate about them. DEEPLY passionate. I guess I could call myself a bit of an adrenaline junkie, and a nice 300 foot drop is just what I need all the time. I am always in search of bigger drops and higher speeds.

The first time I rode a real, "big kid" roller coaster, I was only 6 years old. I remember visiting one of my family's favorite theme parks, and the minute I saw that I had finally grown tall enough and reached the height requirement, I full on sprinted into the line and never looked back. I absolutely loved everything about it, from the feeling of my stomach dropping on the first big dip to the quick twists and turns. From that moment on, I was hooked. Since moving to Las Vegas, I've ridden The Big Apple Coaster at New York-New York Hotel and Casino every chance I've gotten.

You can only imagine my excitement when I learned that there is a holiday to celebrate those beautiful steel beasts (or wood, if you prefer a rougher ride). A day set aside to celebrate one of my favorite things! Sadly, I could not visit an amusement park to engage in any festivities in honor of "National Roller Coaster Day." However, I can do the next best thing, which is tell you all of my favorite roller coasters that every thrill seeker should experience!

Without further ado, here are my top nine favorite roller coasters:

While this coaster isn’t the tallest or fastest, it definitely deserves a place on this list. This ride not only sends passengers down a striking 95 degree drop, but halfway through launches them again at a speed of 75 mph.

The pleasure of riding this coaster is nearly unbeatable. As the tallest roller coaster in the world, this one should most definitely be on your list.

The massive 325-foot drop of this coaster makes it a must for roller coaster lovers.

If you’ve had the opportunity to ride this coaster, you know how exciting it is to speed your way through the Las Vegas skyline. If you haven’t ever had the chance to ride it, you have to get there ASAP!

I think my favorite part about coasters is going as fast as possible, and the launched-start of this indoor coaster makes this one incredible. Pair that with the tight turns and loops and the ride being nearly pitch-black throughout, and you’ve got yourself a fun ride.

The steel track on this wood coaster makes it strikingly smooth, and the sheer speed is unlike any other you've felt on a wooden coaster. The quick twists and turns make it feel like you’re doing flips, which makes it one of my favorites!

Built in 1979, this coaster is a true classic. Not only does it boast 7,400 feet of track to make it the longest wooden coaster on Earth, but it even has two different lift hills!

The Big Dipper is the centerpiece of Camden Park, the only amusement park in my home state of West Virginia. If you want the thrill of a lifetime, consider hoping on one of the oldest roller coasters still standing. This wooden beauty opened in 1958, and I've ridden it more times than I can count. Visiting this historic theme park is a once in a lifetime experience, but I would like the record to show that I am not responsible for your safety if you do so.

While this one isn’t first for pure adrenaline seekers, the overall experience provided with this ride makes it not only exciting but an entertaining experience the whole way through!

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