WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. (KDKA) — Photos of Kennywood’s Racer roller coaster have gone viral on social media, raising concerns about the safety of park-goers.
The photo, which shows two concrete blocks supporting part of the roller coaster track, was shown to visitors to the park by KDKA-TV on Tuesday, who were stunned.
“I’m definitely going to tell my family not to ride the Racers because people’s safety is at risk,” said Dorian Pill of West Mifflin.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Amusement Rides and Attractions Division is responsible for making sure all rides in the state meet strict safety standards. The racer was inspected on July 20, according to the division’s website. The photo was taken two days later by a park visitor and posted to Facebook.
“The engineers are in charge of the parks, so it’s basically their responsibility,” said Jim Durant of Blairsville. “If something bad happens, the park takes full responsibility.”
KDKA-TV sent photos to Kennywood officials and asked if the concrete blocks meet safety standards. In a statement, Kennywood said, “The safety of our attractions is our number one priority. Every ride in our parks is inspected daily by Pennsylvania-certified inspectors before opening to ensure a safe experience for all visitors.”
“Are you letting your kids ride today?” KDKA-TV asked visitors to the park on Tuesday.
“We’ll worry about the racer another day. Let’s get it fixed,” one man said.
KDKA-TV sent the photo to the USDA for their opinion but has not heard back.