Roller Coaster Scare: Couple Saves Girls After Lap Bar Fails

Imagine this: you’re soaring 205 feet in the air on a roller coaster, reaching speeds of up to 72 mph, and suddenly, your safety bar comes loose. That’s exactly what happened to two young girls on the Mamba ride at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City on October 11th. Thankfully, a quick-thinking Missouri couple was right there to ensure their safety.

A Terrifying Ride Turns into a Rescue Mission

Chris and Cassie Evins were enjoying their day at the park when they noticed a terrifying situation unfolding nearby. The lap bar on the Mamba coaster had failed for two girls riding in front of them, leaving a significant gap. Without a second thought, the Evinses sprang into action.

They immediately reached out and held onto the girls, securing them throughout the rest of the terrifying ride. “72 miles an hour, holding onto somebody. It’s terrifying,” Cassie Evins recounted, highlighting the sheer panic of the moment. The girls were understandably crying and scared as the coaster continued its thrilling, albeit now dangerous, course.

Safety Concerns Mount After Second Incident

The Evins’ harrowing experience wasn’t an isolated event. Just one day later, another guest reported a similar issue on the Mamba. This time, it was a seatbelt that failed to lock on her son’s harness as the ride began its ascent. Park staff did notice the malfunction and manually adjusted it before continuing the ride.

These reports have understandably sparked serious questions about the amusement park’s maintenance protocols and the overall reliability of the Mamba’s safety restraints. When you’re paying for a thrill, safety should never be a gamble.

Couple Demands Action and Visible Safety Improvements

Following the incident, Cassie Evins made it clear that her family won’t be returning to Worlds of Fun until they see concrete safety upgrades. “We need to see the change, and once we see that change, I will be comfortable taking my four children, whom I am not comfortable taking currently,” she stated. The couple emphasized how traumatizing the experience was for everyone involved, especially the young girls, and stressed that it could have had a much worse outcome.

They are urging the park to take responsibility and implement stricter safety measures before the Mamba ride is allowed to reopen. It’s a reasonable request when you consider the potential dangers.

Mamba Roller Coaster Taken Out of Service

In response to the safety concerns, the Missouri Division of Fire Safety stepped in to inspect the Mamba roller coaster. Their findings confirmed that some restraint devices were indeed “not functioning properly.” As a result, the ride was immediately shut down.

Worlds of Fun has confirmed that repairs are in progress and anticipates the Mamba will be back up and running by Thursday or Friday, pending the resolution of these safety issues. While the park hasn’t issued a detailed statement, they have acknowledged the temporary closure and the inspection results. We’ll be keeping an eye on this to see how the park addresses these critical safety concerns.