21 injured in Six Flags coaster accident

The accident took place on the Superman Ride of Steel.

AGAWAM, Massachusetts (CNN) -- About 21 people were injured Monday at the Six Flags New England amusement park when a roller coaster train failed to stop at a loading platform and slammed into a train in front of it, authorities said.

Two or three people were knocked unconscious during the accident, said Lt. James Brown with the Agawam Fire Department

Elizbieta Trzepacz, a spokeswoman for Bay State Medical Center, said 10 people -- seven adults and three children -- were brought to their facility with minor injuries. Brown said the others injured were taken to three near by hospitals.

The accident happened around 3 p.m. on the Superman Ride of Steel -- a premier roller coaster that reaches speeds of 80 mph and climbs 20 stories on its biggest hill. The ride opened in 2000.

Agawam Fire Chief David Pisano said the cause of the crash is under investigation. He estimated the train that failed to stop at the loading platform was going about 20 mph when it hit the other train.

"There's some bent steel on both of the cars," he said.

He said the injuries range from broken noses and broken jaws to possible whiplash.

One person, he said, was taken to Bay State Medical Center in nearby Springfield with "Priority 1," or potentially critical, injuries.

A similar accident, but at a lower speed, occurred more than a week ago on the Yankee Cannonball roller coaster at Canobie Lake Park in New Hampshire. Five people suffered minor injuries.