A record-breaking Japanese roller coaster that also gained notoriety for breaking thrill-seekers’ bones has been shut down for good. The Do-Dodonpa

Japan’s fastest roller coaster closed for good over safety concerns, reports of broken bones | South China Morning Post

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2024-03-29 00:30:04

A record-breaking Japanese roller coaster that also gained notoriety for breaking thrill-seekers’ bones has been shut down for good.

The Do-Dodonpa ride at the Fuji-Q Highland theme park in Yamanashi prefecture had been suspended since August 2021 as officials from the transport ministry investigated reports from the local government of a series of injuries, including bone fractures in riders’ neck and chests.

The operator of the park had been looking for solutions to Do-Dodonpa’s problems, but on March 13 announced that safety concerns outweighed calls for the resumption of the ride.

“After repeated discussions with the manufacturer, we concluded that there is no concrete way to completely eliminate the risk of injury, the roller coaster running backwards or stopping in mid-ride,” the company said in a statement.

“In order to meet our obligations as a theme park to society and to make safety our top priority, we have made the decision to permanently cease operations of Do-Dodonpa.”