Galveston Roller Coaster Stuck; 14 Passengers Rescued After Mechanical Failure.
A mechanical failure on a roller coaster at Galveston Island’s historic Pleasure Pier left 14 passengers stranded approximately 80 feet in the air for over two hours on Saturday afternoon. What happened was a sudden halt of the "Iron Shark" coaster at approximately 3:15 PM CDT, causing the ride to stop mid-circuit. The incident took place at the Pleasure Pier, a popular amusement destination located on Seawall Boulevard in Galveston, Texas. The cause of the stoppage has been attributed to a sensor detecting a fault in the ride’s braking system, triggering an automatic safety lockout. Galveston Fire Department personnel responded promptly, deploying an aerial ladder truck to safely evacuate each passenger individually from the stationary train. No injuries were reported. The park has temporarily closed the ride for a comprehensive inspection by both park engineers and state safety regulators. The ride will remain closed until investigators can definitively determine the root cause of the failure and verify the ride's structural integrity.