Arizona Man Jumps Out Of Moving Roller Coaster

A man visiting Castles N’ Coasters in Phoenix says he avoided serious injury by climbing out of a roller coaster after the safety bar on his seat unexpectedly unlatched mid-ride.

Arizona Man Escapes Injury After Roller Coaster Safety Bar Malfunctions at Castles N’ Coasters

The man, who requested to remain anonymous, shared a video of the incident and described the frightening experience, which occurred while celebrating his niece’s birthday at the amusement park.

“The scariest part was knowing kids were there. It could’ve happened to one of them,” he said. “Having fun shouldn’t come with a life-threatening risk.”

The incident happened on the Desert Storm roller coaster, known for its double loops. The man said the lap bar released just after the ride began its ascent.

“As we started the climb, everything sounded normal. But just before reaching the top, I heard a different kind of click,” he explained. “I checked the bar, and it popped open.”

Realizing the danger, he acted quickly, climbing onto a nearby catwalk.

“I had only seconds to decide whether to stay or jump off,” he said, adding that leaving the seat likely saved his life.

Concerns Over Operator Awareness

The man said the ride operator didn’t notice his actions until he was safely on the ground.

“She should have been monitoring the ride and reacted as soon as she saw me,” he said. “There should’ve been an emergency stop or something.”

He also pointed out that, although the bar seemed secure before the ride began, the operator did not perform a physical safety check.

“I pushed up on the bar to test it. She looked at it but didn’t actually check,” he added.

Call for Better Safety Regulations

Unlike some states, Arizona does not have a regulatory body overseeing amusement parks. Instead, rides are inspected annually by private companies or insurance providers, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The man believes this system is inadequate and called for stricter oversight.

“There needs to be better regulation. These parks are responsible for people’s lives,” he said.

He filed an incident report with the park but did not receive a copy.

“The negligence and lack of care were the most alarming parts of it all,” he said.

Castles N’ Coasters has not yet responded to requests for comment.