Tragedy Strikes at Gröna Lund Amusement Park – One Dead and Nine Injured in Roller Coaster Accident
Stockholm, Sweden – On Sunday, tragedy struck at Gröna Lund amusement park as the Jetline roller coaster partially derailed, resulting in the death of one woman and nine people being injured. The incident has sparked an immediate investigation by the police, the National Accident Commission, and the amusement park itself, which has led to the closure of Gröna Lund since the accident occurred.
Jan Eriksson, the CEO of Gröna Lund, expressed his deep sorrow over the tragic event, stating, “It’s a terrible event that shouldn’t be able to happen, but now what shouldn’t happen, what we’ve worked so long to avoid, has still happened.” The park’s team is working closely with victims, relatives, and staff, as they assist in the investigation.
Despite the devastating incident, Gröna Lund has announced plans to reopen its doors. The amusement park will temporarily transform into a walking park on Monday, July 3, offering visitors a moment of silence and reflection. During this time, no attractions, games, or points of sale will be in use.
“On Wednesday, July 5, paying guests will be welcomed back to Gröna Lund more or less as usual,” said Jan Eriksson, though he emphasized that the park will be different in many ways following the accident. The CEO stated, “For us, there is somehow one before and one after June 25, so we have not said that it will be as usual, because it will not be. But in many ways, the park will at the same time be as it was before the accident.”
To ensure the safety of future visitors, Gröna Lund is conducting additional inspections of its attractions. The park is utilizing an independent external inspection company to carry out safety checks, alongside their own internal inspections. Jan Eriksson reassured the public, saying, “We and our visitors should feel completely secure in the fact that we have done everything we can to make it safe to visit Gröna Lund.”
In the wake of the tragic event, a meeting was held between Gröna Lund representatives and their staff to address concerns and provide support. Jan Eriksson acknowledged the fears and worries that many may have, but expressed his confidence in the park’s safety measures, stating that accidents at amusement parks in Sweden are extremely rare. He said, “I feel very secure with our security work, and I always have. My children have always been allowed to move freely in the park, and they will be allowed to do so even after the accident.”
The status of the Jetline roller coaster, the attraction involved in the accident, remains uncertain. Currently, it is still under investigation and subject to the ongoing preliminary investigation. Jan Eriksson explained, “In the short term, Jetline is an attraction that we will not run, but in the long term, unfortunately, I cannot comment on that yet.”
Gröna Lund will reopen as a walking park on Monday, July 3, from 15:00 to 19:00, with free entry. On Wednesday, July 5, the amusement park will resume operations for paying visitors. Before the reopening, external inspections of 17 of the park’s attractions, particularly those with high heights or speeds, will have been conducted.
The tragic incident at Gröna Lund has shocked the community, with officials and investigators working diligently to determine the cause of the roller coaster derailment. As the park prepares to reopen, their commitment to ensuring the safety of their visitors remains their top priority.
Sources:
Gröna Lund
https://www.gp.se/1.103686836