One Dead and Several Injured as Roller Coaster Derails in Sweden

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On Sunday, a tragic incident unfolded at an amusement park in Stockholm, Sweden, as a roller coaster train derailed, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to nine others, according to authorities.

Eyewitnesses at Gröna Lund park described a scene of chaos when the front of the train suddenly veered off the tracks, ultimately coming to a halt with one of the cars tilted towards the ground.

Jan Eriksson, the park’s CEO, provided details, stating, “The front portion of the train partially derailed and came to a stop on the track at a height ranging between 6 and 8 meters (20 and 25 feet). Out of the 14 people on board, one person tragically lost their life, and several others sustained injuries.”

Regional officials confirmed that nine individuals were transported to a hospital, with one person in serious condition. Among the injured were three children, all with minor injuries.

One witness, Ziba Assadi, recounted the horrifying moment when she observed a wheel assembly of one of the cars crashing to the ground as she stood below the Jetline roller coaster. She recalled, “Then the car abruptly stopped, and passengers were thrown out, falling from the car.”

Eyewitnesses mentioned that two or three individuals were ejected from the car, with one managing to cling onto the track. Photographs from the scene captured a man sitting on a beam beneath the stationary train.

“The man straddled the beam and waited,” Assadi recounted, adding, “There was sheer panic.”

Following the accident, the amusement park was promptly evacuated and will remain closed for seven days to allow investigators to thoroughly examine the incident and determine the cause.

Annika Troselius, a spokesperson for Gröna Lund, expressed their commitment to safety, stating, “This incident should never have occurred. Safety is our utmost priority. We would never operate an attraction if we were not confident in its safety. Hence, a comprehensive investigation is imperative.”

Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into potential charges of involuntary manslaughter, causing bodily harm, and endangering others.

The Jetline roller coaster, which spans 800 meters (2,600 feet) in length, first opened in 1988 and underwent renovations in 2000, as per Gröna Lund. It boasts a maximum height of 30 meters (98 feet) and reaches speeds of up to 90 kph (56 mph).

Gröna Lund, established in 1883, holds the distinction of being Sweden’s oldest amusement park.

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