Riders Evacuated From California Screamin' Coaster After Object Blocks Track

Twenty-three people were evacuated from the California Screamin' roller coaster at Disney California Adventure on Friday evening after a rider dropped an object on the track, causing the coaster to stop, a fire official said.

No one was injured in the incident at about 6:30 p.m. at the Disneyland park, said Anaheim Fire Marshal Jeff Lutz. The Anaheim Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue Team responded to the emergency and brought the riders to safety.

The modern roller coaster did as it was designed to do, stopping when
something landed on the track to prevent a derailment, Lutz said.

The coaster had gone to the top of a loop when the object fell, and was at the bottom of a loop when the train stopped, "so it wasn't that high,'' Lutz said, estimating the tracks were 20 feet in height at that point.

A team of 22 firefighters first secured the coaster train to the tracks,
then used three ladders to remove 23 people from the coaster in 25 minutes, Lutz said.

"That's pretty darn good,'' Lutz said. "It's the kind of thing we
train for.''

The riders seemed to take this additional thrill in stride, he said.

"People were calm and smiling,'' as they climbed down the ladders, Lutz said.

—City News Service