New Report Released On El Toro Derailment At Six Flags

JACKSON, NJ — Investigators continue to try to determine what caused the rear wheels of a car on the El Toro roller coaster to come off its track at Six Flags Great Adventure 10 days ago.

In a report that Six Flags officials filed with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs about the June 29 incident, officials say the rear wheels of the A6 car “came out from their normal position in the rails.”

“The train traveled most of the ride with the rear wheels in this position,” the report by Six Flags officials said. “During the ride cycle the vehicle axle position caused damage to the rear wheel assembly, track wood and track steel bolts.”

Park officials said the investigation into what caused the wheels to come out of their normal position, “including the completion of a detailed track gauge and track steel inspection,” was continuing.

The Department of Community Affairs provided a copy of the incident report to Patch.

Lisa M. Ryan, a spokeswoman for the Department of Community Affairs, said the state “red tagged” the ride, meaning it is prohibited from operating and has been put under engineering review.

There were no injuries in the incident, but because the train stopped a few yards before the brake run, riders had to be evacuated, according to the Six Flags incident report.

Though Ryan referred to it as “a partial derailment,” Six Flags spokeswoman Kristin B. Fitzgerald rejected that characterization.

“The train’s safety systems worked as designed and the train remained on the track,” Fitzgerald said.

Ryan said: “El Toro will not reopen until DCA is provided with a report by the ride manufacturer indicating what caused the derailment as well as how to mitigate the issue.”

El Toro was designed by German thrill-ride engineer Werner Stengel, who has worked on many of the world’s record-breaking roller coasters, including Kingda Ka at Great Adventure.

It was manufactured by Intamin, a Swiss company whose name is shortened from “International Amusement Installations.” The company has created dozens of coasters around the world. Intamin contracted with Rocky Mountain Construction to build El Toro, according to Coasterforce.com.

Ryan did not have a timetable on when the state might receive the engineering report.

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