Swedish accident investigators have determined that the tragic derailment of a roller coaster at Grona Lund park in Stockholm last year, which resulted in the death of one passenger and injuries to nine others, was caused by deficiencies in the ordering, manufacturing, and testing of new support arms for the Jetline trains. The investigation revealed that the support arms were not sufficiently strong, leading to the derailment on June 25.
The roller coaster, which was carrying 11 passengers at the time, experienced a catastrophic failure as the front of the train jumped off the tracks, causing one car to tilt toward the ground. A woman in her 30s was thrown from the ride and tragically lost her life. Two other passengers fell from the train, with one sustaining serious injuries and the other minor injuries. Additionally, seven other passengers suffered minor injuries in the incident.
In response to the accident, Grona Lund park CEO announced the permanent closure of the Jetline roller coaster, emphasizing the park's commitment to ensuring the safety of its visitors. The park management expressed deep regret over the incident and vowed to take all necessary measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the derailment, with extensive interrogations, technical examinations of the train carriages, and material analyses being conducted. The prosecutor indicated that a decision on potential charges has not yet been determined.
The Jetline roller coaster, which opened in 1988 and underwent renovations in 2000, featured a track length of 800 meters and reached a maximum height of 30 meters with a top speed of 90 kph. Grona Lund, the oldest amusement park in Sweden established in 1883, has been deeply affected by the incident and is committed to upholding the highest safety standards moving forward.
