Kansas City Couple Saves Girl After Seat Belt Malfunctions on 72-MPH Roller Coaster
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI — A Kansas City couple is being hailed as heroes after saving a young girl during a terrifying moment on a high-speed roller coaster when her seat belt came undone mid-ride.
Chris and Cassie Evins were visiting the Worlds of Fun amusement park when they boarded The Mamba, a 205-foot-tall steel roller coaster that reaches speeds of up to 72 miles per hour. Moments after the ride began, chaos erupted behind them.
“Her Seat Belt Was Completely Undone”
According to the Evins, a young girl seated in the row behind them began panicking as the train started climbing its first massive hill, shouting that her seat belt wasn’t latched.
“It was completely undone,” said Chris Evins in an interview with ABC7. “I turned around and saw the fear on her face — we just reacted. We had to hold her down.”
The couple said they immediately braced themselves, gripping the girl’s arms and shoulders as the coaster began its steep drop and high-speed loops. Cassie Evins also helped secure another young girl sitting next to her friend, keeping both pinned safely in their seats as the ride barreled forward.
A Terrifying Ride at 72 Miles Per Hour
The Mamba, one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the Midwest, features sudden drops and intense g-forces — making any restraint failure especially dangerous.
For the Evins, what should have been a thrilling experience turned into a heart-stopping ordeal.
“It felt like forever,” said Cassie. “Every turn, every drop, I just kept thinking — please let it end soon. We couldn’t let go.”
When the coaster finally pulled into the loading station, the couple alerted ride attendants immediately. Staff members rushed to check the seat restraints and escorted the two girls off the ride.
Park Responds to Safety Scare
Officials at Worlds of Fun confirmed they are investigating the incident and inspecting the Mamba’s restraint systems. While the park has not yet identified the cause of the malfunction, a spokesperson said safety remains their “top priority.”
“All rides undergo daily inspections before opening,” the statement read. “We are reviewing all mechanical and operational factors to ensure this does not happen again.”
No injuries were reported, but the couple said the young girl was visibly shaken and crying after the ride ended.
Guests Call for Stronger Safety Checks
Park visitors who heard about the incident have voiced concern about safety inspections and the importance of double-checking restraints before launch.
“I can’t imagine the horror of realizing your seat belt isn’t locked in on a ride that fast,” one visitor said. “That couple deserves recognition for what they did.”
Chris and Cassie Evins said they’re not looking for praise — just reassurance that the issue will be fixed.
“If we hadn’t been there, that story could’ve ended very differently,” Chris said. “We just hope they make sure no one else ever has to go through that.”
