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Texas Tilt Coaster Stops Mid-Ride, Leaving Two Riders Dangling 130 Feet

COTA attributes the stoppage to a sensor-triggered delay.

Overview

  • At about 8:52 p.m. Wednesday, the Circuit Breaker ride at COTALAND halted on its first drop, leaving Matthew Cantu, 24, and Nicholas Sanchez, 20, suspended at a 90-degree angle roughly 130 feet up.
  • Circuit of the Americas said a sensor triggered a delay that staff corrected and the ride then proceeded without incident.
  • Austin-Travis County EMS logged a 9:31 p.m. 911 call, arrived at 9:42, and cleared the scene at 10:11 after evaluating one adult who refused transport.
  • The riders’ publicist and witnesses allege delayed updates and conflicting information from staff, and say relatives placed the 911 call when no emergency crews were on site.
  • Circuit Breaker is Texas’ first tilt coaster and is in a preview phase ahead of an official 2026 opening, and media noted similar brief stoppages on a tilt ride at Cedar Point earlier this year.