Students Rescued After Roller Coaster Malfunction at Texas Amusement Park

<p>Eight students from the Houston Independent School District were rescued after becoming stuck on the Iron Shark roller coaster at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier in Texas. The incident occurred during a field trip when the roller coaster stopped mid-ascent, leaving the students dangling vertically 100 feet off the ground for nearly four hours.</p><p>The Galveston Fire Department received a call for assistance at 5:37 p.m. after the roller coaster halted at 5:21 p.m. Firefighters deployed a 105-foot ladder truck to reach the stranded students, lowering them one at a time in harnesses. The last student was safely retrieved shortly after 9:00 p.m.</p><p>Terry Turney, chief operating officer of Pleasure Pier, stated that the roller coaster stopped as designed to ensure safety during a malfunction, although the cause of the malfunction remains unclear. The students were checked for dehydration after being exposed to the sun but did not sustain any injuries.</p><p>Galveston Fire Chief Mike Varela noted that the firefighters worked to reassure the students during the rescue. A thorough inspection of the ride will be conducted before it is reopened to the public.</p><p>Pleasure Pier is a popular tourist destination, featuring the Iron Shark roller coaster, which includes four inversions, a 100-foot climb, a 95-degree drop, and speeds of up to 52 mph.</p>