Bird crashes into face of coaster rider

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JACKSON, N.J., July 28 (UPI) -- A bird crashed into the face of a boy who was riding a roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, a park official said.

The rider, described only as a juvenile male by Six Flags spokesperson Kristin Siebeneicher, suffered minor injuries to his face and neck Thursday. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment, the Asbury Park (N.J.) Press reported.

Siebeneicher said the incident occurred about 4:45 p.m. as the roller coaster train returned to a station near a hill in the track.

"We immediately shut the ride down and notified the state Department of Community Affairs, which is protocol," she 
wrote in an e-mail to the newspaper. "They cleared us to reopen the ride approximately 30 minutes later."

The ride, Kingda Ka, is 45 stories high and reaches speeds of 128 miles per hour, the amusement park's Web site said.