COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Latest on a North Carolina amusement park power outage that left riders stranded for several hours (all times local):
___
10:55 a.m.
A 19-year-old college student says he's taking a break from thrill rides after he and his girlfriend spent several hours stranded hundreds of feet in the air atop a North Carolina amusement park on the North Carolina-South Carolina state line.
Rising University of North Carolina-Charlotte sophomore Josh Bryant told The Associated Press that his legs dangled in the air in the dark as crews at Carowinds worked Thursday night to manually lower riders of the WindSeeker, a 301 foot-tall swing ride. At least two roller coasters were evacuated more quickly.
Officials have said a power outage is to blame for the issues, and no one was hurt.
The three rides are open Friday. A park spokeswoman says three water-related attractions within Carowinds' water park are closed. Another ride, Whitewater Falls, also is closed.
___
9 a.m.
Utility crews are examining a blown transformer that could have been responsible for a power outage that left riders stranded on at least three rides at the Carowinds theme park on the North Carolina-South Carolina state line.
Multiple media outlets reported the power went out shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday.
No one was hurt, but it took about two hours to get people off at least one of the rides. The longest wait was for those on the Windseeker, a 301 foot-tall swing ride where the swings had to be manually lowered to the ground.
Riders stuck on at least two roller coasters were evacuated more quickly.
It was not immediately clear whether all the rides would be operating Friday. A spokeswoman did not immediately return messages.
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
