A second crack was found on the North Carolina roller coaster that was shut down earlier this month for the same reason: report

• A second crack has been found in a roller coaster at a North Carolina amusement park, per CNN.
• The ride was shut down earlier this month after a visitor warned park employees about a crack.

Earlier this month, the Fury 325, a roller coaster at North Carolina amusement park Carowinds, was shut down after a visitor spotted a crack in one of the ride's steel support beams.

Now, an investigation by the North Carolina Department of Labor has revealed a second break, CNN reported Friday. State officials confirmed in a statement to the outlet that they discovered a "weld indication," which "could be either a break or a crack." Officials didn't say where the flaw is on the ride or how severe it is.

Representatives for the agency did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

—The Associated Press (@AP) July 3, 2023

In a statement to Insider, a Carowinds representative said the park was conducting "a full maintenance review" of the ride's steel structure, the coaster's cars, and its ride control system.

"During such reviews, it is not uncommon to discover slight weld indications in various locations of a steel superstructure. It is important to note that these indications do not compromise the structural integrity or safety of the ride."

However, in an interview with WCNC, NCDOT-certified welder Alfred Bessette disputed the claim the park gave the outlet about safety.

"If it's happening in various locations, they didn't have certified or qualified welders," he told the outlet. "I mean, here's the question: Would you let your mother ride on that thing? Absolutely not."

According to Carowinds' website, the Fury 325 is the "tallest, fastest, longest giga coaster in North America." The coaster is said to reach a peak height of 325 feet and a maximum speed of 95 miles per hour. The ride lasts for just over three minutes.

This month's news isn't the first time Fury 325 has come under scrutiny: In 2015, WCNC reported that the state looked into the ride after it came to "an unexpected stop" near the top of one of its steepest drops.