A spokesperson for the theme park blamed the accident on “strong winds” and said the accident was “completely unrelated to the operation or maintenance of the attraction.”
by Daniel Binns, news reporter
Sunday 11 February 2024 15:34 UK
A tree falls on a roller coaster in Spain, injuring more than a dozen people.
A total of 14 people were injured, two with “serious injuries,” on a Tomahawk ride at the PortAventura theme park Sunday morning.
A spokesperson for the park in eastern Tarragona. Spainblamed it on “strong winds.”
They said, “The accident was caused by a tree that fell near the Tomahawk ride. Some of the tree branches hit the visitors who were riding the ride.”
The statement added: “We have nothing to do with the operation or maintenance of attractions that meet the highest safety standards and undergo rigorous daily inspections.”
Emergency services said five people were taken to hospital in the area, two of them in critical condition.
PortAventura’s website describes the ride as “a children’s roller coaster with frenetic climbs and descents that will test the courage of all who attempt it.”
Footage posted on social media showed theme park visitors anxiously watching as an ambulance arrived at the scene.