Mom is critically injured after she was ejected from a malfunctioning log ride and became trapped in the water at a California amusement park
- A log-shaped vessel overturned Saturday just before 4.30pm at Castle Park
- Fire officials said the mother was ejected from the ride and was trapped in water
- She was transported to Riverside Community Hospital in critical condition
- The father and their 10-year-old son suffered minor injuries, authorities said
- A pump reportedly malfunctioned, preventing flow of water onto the track
- The log then went down the ramp at an 'incredible rate of speed', officials said
Three family members were injured, one critically, when they were ejected from a log ride at a Southern California amusement park.
Fire officials say the ride malfunctioned and one of the log-shaped vessels overturned Saturday just before 4.30pm at Castle Park in Riverside.
After the malfunction, the log went down the ramp at an 'incredible rate of speed'.
The mother was ejected from the ride and became trapped in the water.
Three family members were injured when they were ejected from a log ride (pictured after crash) at a California amusement park. Officials said the mother of the family is in critical condition
After the malfunction, the log went down the ramp at an 'incredible rate of speed'. The mother was ejected from the ride (pictured after crash) and became trapped in the water
Several park workers jumped over barricades to help the family following the incident, according to CBS.
Fire Capt Brian Guzzetta says the mother was transported to the Riverside Community Hospital Trauma Center in critical condition.
The father and their 10-year-old son were treated at a hospital for minor injuries.
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Guzzetta says a pump apparently malfunctioned, preventing the flow of water onto the track.
He says when the log descended from one of the falls, there wasn't enough water to slow it down and it crashed.
Authorities have not released the identities of the family.
Fire Capt Brian Guzzetta said a pump apparently malfunctioned, preventing the flow of water onto the track
He says when the log descended from one of the falls, there wasn't enough water to slow it down and it crashed
Park officials said the rides are inspected every day and the log ride was inspected earlier on Saturday before the accident. Castle Park (pictured) will remain open through the weekend
Robert Mahler told the station that he witnessed the entire incident while his kids were on the next ride over.
Mahler described the scene as pure chaos as several people started 'screaming and panicking'.
'All of a sudden I saw the boat careening around the corner and it went way too fast and it tilted, maybe 45, 55 degrees and all I saw was, just essentially, legs falling out of the boat. And down into the water,' he told CBS.
Mahler said the woman was covered in blood and her son had a big gash on his forehead.
The log ride is closed during an investigation by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). The agency will also conduct an inspection of the entire ride.
Park officials said the rides are inspected every day and the log ride was inspected earlier on Saturday before the accident.
Castle Park will remain open through the weekend.
