Popular Missouri Coaster Shut Down Over Lap Belt Concerns

One of the most popular roller coasters in Missouri has been shut down after inspectors learned of and verified issues with lap belts on the ride according to multiple reports.

The Mamba at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri is often listed as one of the favorite roller coasters in the state

I first saw this report from Fox 4 in Kansas City and then confirmed again by KMBC. They say that Worlds of Fun and safety inspectors have shut down the Mamba after they received reports of customer concerns about lap belts on the ride. When inspected again, the reports say that up to 20 lap belts were found to be insufficient for tightening correctly. Inspectors and Worlds of Fun shut the Mamba down immediately until it can be repaired and inspected again to confirm the malfunctioning belts have been corrected.

Wikipedia says The Mamba was first opened for riders in April of 1998. It is classified as a hyper coaster because it has a greater than 200 foot height or drop distance. The official Mamba website says the first hill climbs 205 feet into the sky and reaches speeds up to 75 mph. You can understand with that kind of drop and velocity that questionable lap belts would be a terrifying concern.