Roller coaster strikes and critically injures man in restricted area of Ohio theme park

CINCINNATI– A man who apparently entered a restricted area to retrieve his lost keys at an Ohio theme park was seriously injured when he was struck by a steel roller coaster, police and park officials said.

The 38-year-old man appeared to have entered a fenced area on Kings Island on Wednesday evening, according to a statement from the park near Cincinnati. He was found on the ground with an injury, but details of his condition have not been released. He remained in the hospital.

The man dropped his keys while riding the Banshee, an inverted roller coaster where the train dangles from the track, then entered the restricted area and was struck by the roller coaster, according to Mason police.

According to the park’s websitethe Banshee is the world’s longest steel inverted roller coaster, reaching speeds of 69 mph.

The roller coaster was shut down and will remain closed while the investigation continues. No other injuries were reported.

The park is located in Mason, about 23 miles northeast of Cincinnati.