AURORA, Ohio -- A ride on a Geauga Lake roller coaster could have ended in disaster if a high-tech eye hadn't detected that one of the coasters' safety bars wasn't locked in place, reported NewsChannel5's Brad Harvey.

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Coaster Riders Say They Were In Shock

The incident happened on the Double Loop, Ohio's first looping coaster. Harvey reported that with coasters from this era, the safety bars for each car have to be locked by a ride operator by stepping on a pedal.

SLIDESHOW: Safety Bar Left Unlocked

Three ride operators were working the coaster Sunday, but reportedly failed to lock the safety bar for the first car, which held two riders.

The ride took off and began making its way along the track before the eye caught the safety problem and the coaster was immediately halted.

Geauga Lake's Jackie Robinson said the technology is in place if something like this happens.

"There is an electronic eye, and it picks up when the pedals are not locked," she said. "It actually counts them as they go up the lift and if there is one missing, it automatically stops."

Geauga Lake says it considers this incident to be a serious safety violation, and has terminated the three ride operators who were working the coaster.