Two Riders Rescued After Tilt-Coaster Stall at Circuit of the Americas in Texas
Two men were stranded at a 90-degree angle roughly 130 feet above the ground on Circuit Breakers, a new tilt roller coaster at the Circuit of the Americas site in Austin, before being freed by emergency crews.
Two riders on Circuit Breakers, a tilt roller coaster at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, were left stranded about 130 feet above the ground after the ride stalled near the first drop on Wednesday night. The riders, identified as Matthew Cantu, 24, and Nicholas Sanchez, 20, were stuck upright when the car paused at a 90-degree angle. A publicist for the riders told local broadcaster KXAN that they were stranded for more than 30 minutes after the ride stopped, and that first responders arrived about 10 minutes after a relative called 911.
The Circuit Breakers ride climbs about 130 feet before tilting forward to a 90-degree angle, locking onto the track and then dropping at speeds up to 60 mph. The incident occurred at the Circuit of the Americas sports complex, which houses the new attraction ahead of its grand debut next year.
Family members reported a lack of clear updates in the minutes after the stoppage, and witnesses described staff offering conflicting explanations, including claims that the riders were not strapped in correctly, according to the riders’ publicist.
Cantu told KXAN he felt lightheaded and noted symptoms consistent with blood pooling, while Sanchez said he experienced numbness in his upper leg during the delay.
Park officials attributed the delay to a sensor triggering a temporary hold on the ride; a park spokesperson said the issue was resolved and the ride proceeded without incident. The statement also noted that roughly 25,000 people had ridden the coaster to date and that only two riders had encountered this type of delay.
Circuit Breakers is Texas’s first tilt coaster and opened for preview rides in October ahead of its planned grand debut next year.
In nearby amusement-park news, Cedar Point’s tilt coaster Siren’s Curse has repeatedly malfunctioned since its late-June opening. The ride features a 160-foot lift hill and reaches speeds of up to 58 mph over a two-minute ride, but a power outage halted it on its first day of operation.
The incident at Circuit Breakers underscores ongoing attention to safety on new thrill rides while officials emphasize that such malfunctions are rare. No injuries beyond those reported by the riders were disclosed, and park officials stressed that the attraction operates within established safety protocols as it continues to welcome guests.
