A man is in critical condition following an incident at Kings Island, where he was reportedly attempting to retrieve keys he had misplaced while on the Banshee roller coaster.
According to park authorities, the man ventured into a restricted area near the roller coaster, where he was believed to have been struck by the ride. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, resulting in the man sustaining major head trauma.
Emergency responders promptly arrived at the scene, and the man was airlifted to West Chester Hospital and later transferred to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
The 38-year-old Ohio resident, whose identity remains undisclosed, had accessed the restricted area in search of his keys, which he had dropped during his ride on the Banshee.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture has been informed of the incident and is currently conducting a thorough re-inspection of the ride. As of now, it remains uncertain when the Banshee will resume operation to the public.
The Banshee stands as the world’s longest steel inverted roller coaster, boasting speeds of up to 68 mph.