East Coast power outage strands park guests

Power outages that struck several large cities this afternoon, including New York City, Toronto, Cleveland and Detroit, hit Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, in its swath of blackouts.

As with many of the reported outages throughout the region, Cedar Point lost power at 4:15 pm, leaving guests stranded on several rides, including those in a train near the top of the Millennium Force's 310-foot lift hill. All rides were evacuated by 5:30, a witness said, including guests in the suspended coaster Iron Dragon.

With temperatures in the 90s, Cedar Point staff were handing out ice water to guests, and food in its cafeterias was being served at no charge.

A problem reported in a power grid near Niagara Falls is being blamed for the series of power failures that blacked out the whole of New York City and shut down its mass transit system. Cleveland's lights went out at the start of rush hour, and people were reported stranded in elevators in Toronto when that city went black.

(c) Amusement Today, 14. August 2003