One person is dead and nine were injured after a roller coaster in Sweden partially derailed Sunday, police and park officials are reporting.
The deadly incident took place at Gröna Lund amusement park in the country’s capital of Stockholm.
“Today is a day of mourning at Gröna Lund, we’ve had a very serious accident in the roller coaster Jetline, where one person has died and nine people have been injured,” Jan Eriksson, the park’s chief executive, said during a press conference.
14 people on board including 3 children
According to park officials, the Jetline roller coaster partly derailed about 11:30 a.m. local time and sent some riders plunging to the ground.
Fourteen people were on board when the accident took place, park officials said in statement posted online.
“The front of the train partly derailed and stopped on the track at a height of between 6 and 8 meters (between 20 and 25 feet),” park officials wrote.
Government officials reported one person died and nine others were taken to a hospital − one in serious condition.
The identities of the victims were not immediately known, but officials said three children were among those injured. The juvenile’s injuries were reported as being minor.
What coasters offer the most thrills?Best readers ranked 10 top roller coasters in the country
‘Complete panic’
Eyewitnesses said at least two people fell out of the car, one seen clinging to the track. The Associated Press reported photos from the scene showed a man sitting on a beam below the stopped train.
“So he sits there straddling (the beam) and waits,” witness Ziba Assadi said. “There was complete panic.”
On Monday, TV4 reported four people remained hospitalized while investigators worked to determine how the ride derailed.
The investigation is expected to take several months, John Ahlberk, director general of the Norwegian Accident Commission, told the outlet.
The 2,600-foot long Jetline coaster opened in 1988 and was renovated in 2000, according to Gröna Lund’s website. It stands 98 feet high at maximum height and reaches a top speed of 56 mph.
15th roller coaster opened at HersheyHersheypark opens 15th coaster weeks after new Hershey’s Chocolate World attraction debuts
An evacuation and park closure
The amusement park was evacuated after the deadly derailment.
On Monday the park was listed online as closed until further notice.
“We are doing our best to respond to everyone who wants to contact us in the coming days,” park officials posted on Gröna Lund’s website. “For those of you who were affected by the accident, or who are related to someone who was affected and need support or have specific questions about the accident, we have set up a Crisis Line.”
The crisis line number can be found on the park’s website.
Contributing: Associated Press
Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.
