3 Hospitalized After Calif. Theme Park Ride Malfunction

A wheel came off of a stagecoach at Knott's Berry Farm

Three people were hospitalized Sunday after a stagecoach tipped when a rear wheel came off on a ride at a southern California amusement park.

Before the 1:30 p.m. incident at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif., the park was already under scrutiny for malfunctions of another ride.

On Sunday, the left rear wheel detached from a stagecoach that was carrying 14 passengers, said Jennifer Blazey, a park spokeswoman.

Three passengers were taken to a hospital for minor injuries. Two of the guests have been released from the hospital, the spokeswoman said.

The ride will be closed until further notice, Blazey said.

The park was the focus of scrutiny in September when a brake froze on a thrill ride called WindSeeker. The malfunction prompted the temporary closure of the ride at six Knott’s Berry Farms across the country.

It was the park’s second such incident in as many weeks and the latest in a string of international malfunctions on the Dutch-made ride.

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