Daytona Beach roller coaster that derailed has history of safety violations

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA — The Sand Blaster roller coaster that flew off the tracks at the Daytona Beach Boardwalk Thursday night was shut down last year for safety issues, according to the Daytona Beach News Journal Online.

(Read: Two riders fall 34 feet when Daytona Beach roller coaster derails)

The ride was purchased in 2012 from a Delaware theme park that had been closed since 2008. At the time of purchase, the ride was already at least 40-years-old.

In February of last year, the Department of Agriculture issued a stop operation order for the ride after an inspection revealed more than a dozen concerns: 

-Worn and damaged handrail,

-Four safety cables not properly secured

-Three worn and damaged braces

-A missing brace

-10 worn and damaged deck braces

- A damaged seat bracket

-Two seats not properly secured

-Corroded fencing

-Cracked supports

-Damaged lighting fixtures

Two people were thrown 34-feet to the ground below when the Sand Blaster derailed Thursday night. The first car was left dangling over  the tracks, the two other cars had passengers stranded until firefighters could rescue them. Six out of the ten passengers were sent to the hospital.

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