Child Injured On Six Flags Ride Marks 3rd Incident In Last Month

JACKSON, NJ — A child was injured Wednesday while riding The Joker roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure, park officials confirmed Friday.

The coaster was closed Wednesday after the child was injured, said Kristin B. Fitzgerald, spokeswoman for Six Flags Great Adventure.

"We are unable to speculate as to the cause of the reported injury," she said.

She said she could not provide details on the child's injury or age due to HIPAA rules. Riders must be 48 inches tall to ride The Joker. Some 7-year-olds would be tall enough to ride, according to a growth chart published by Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

A report by NJ.com said the injured child was a young boy who was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Fitzgerald said the coaster was inspected by Six Flags and the state Department of Community Affairs and was found to be in proper working order. It reopened Thursday.

The NJ.com report also said the Nitro roller coaster was shut down due to a rider's complaint of a loose bar but inspected and found to be safe. Fitzgerald did not comment on the Nitro incident.

The incident on The Joker is the third in a month at the amusement park.

El Toro has been closed since a June 29 incident where the rear wheels of one car "came out from their normal position in the rails" of the coaster, according to a report Six Flags filed with the Department of Community Affairs.

One train on that coaster stopped before it reached the station where passengers board and get off as a result of the wheels moving out of position. There were no injuries. Read more: New Report Released On El Toro Derailment At Six Flags

On June 13, two people were taken to the hospital for treatment when a boat on the Log Flume tipped on its side. Video of the Log Flume published by NJ.com shows a guide railing loose on the ride, allegedly right before the June 13 accident. That ride has since been repaired and reopened.

The Joker opened in May 2016. It features 4D wing vehicles that seat up to eight people per vehicle that ride on either side of a twisting I-box track frame.

"Magnetic technology allows smooth head-over-heels free-fly flips while the ride moves along the track, and the seats allow riders to face each other as they're flipping along," the park said.

There is a 120-foot-tall, 90-degree hill that is ascended by an elevator-style, chain link lift, and two beyond-90-degree "raven" drops that give riders the sensation of free-falling, the park said.

Click here to get Patch email notifications, or download our app to have breaking news alerts sent right to your phone. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com