UMVA has learned that a harrowing incident unfolded at Canada’s Wonderland over the weekend, leaving a group of riders stranded on the Leviathan rollercoaster in the midst of a torrential downpour and howling winds.
The behemoth ride, known for its stomach-dropping thrills, suddenly "valleyed" on Saturday, forcing a handful of unfortunate passengers to endure the biting cold, relentless rain, and gusty weather. A park visitor, who captured the dramatic scene on video, described the terrifying moment when the ride came to an abrupt halt.
In the chilling footage, the riders can be seen stuck on Canada’s tallest rollercoaster, at the mercy of the elements. The video’s narrator, Jake, expressed concern for the stranded riders, saying, “These poor riders are stuck in the cold rain right now. I believe they’re able to get them off here soon.”
Another eyewitness, @coastersnbrews, shared a video showing the Leviathan rollercoaster cars oscillating wildly on the track, eerily similar to a pirate ship ride, as wind gusts howled in the background. The temperature seemed to have plummeted to a bone-chilling 38 degrees, adding to the riders' distress.
Canada’s Wonderland responded swiftly to the incident, issuing a statement assuring that the few guests onboard were safely unloaded and accommodated by park staff. The theme park emphasized that the safety of its guests and employees remains a top priority.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that six guests were on the ride when it stalled, and fortunately, no one was harmed. However, the park’s Behemoth ride also experienced a similar malfunction during the same windy rainstorm, leaving visitors stunned and amused by the unexpected sequence of events.
The ride stoppages occurred on a day when the theme park had already delayed the opening of its Splash Works water park due to the inclement weather. Environment Canada had issued a special weather statement for the Greater Toronto area, predicting between 30 and 50 millimeters of rain.
