One person is dead and several other people are injured after riding a ride that malfunctioned at the Ohio State Fair on Wednesday.
According to NBC News, witnesses reported that the ride that malfunctioned was the “Fire Ball,” which is a ride that swings and spins passengers in a “pendulum-like motion.”
Ohio Governor, John Kasich, ordered a full investigation and has ordered that all rides be shut down until additional safety inspections have been completed. Kasich said, “We will get to the bottom of this.”
He continued, “I am terribly saddened by this accident, by the loss of life and that people were injured enjoying Ohio’s fair.”
Authorities have reportedly not identified the deceased and those that were injured. Columbus fire Battalion Chief, Steve Martin reportedly told WCMH that two of the people injured are in stable condition, and the station reported that one of the people injured is a 13-year-old girl.
Dr. David Evans of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center reviewed video of the incident “that demonstrated that multiple passengers were ejected at high speed with high energy, many feet — at least 20 or 30, if not more — into the air and then crashed at a significant distance from the ride.”
Britney Neal, who was waiting to ride the “Fire Ball,” with her sister told TODAY, “The ride was going as normal, and then all of a sudden you see people flying out, and then the guy hit the emergency stop button, which then made the seat fly off and people flew off as well.”
The Ohio State Fair will stay open, but the rides will remain closed as they wait to be approved through the safety checks.
We send our condolences to those affected by this tragedy.
Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/one-dead-several-hurt-ohio-state-fair-ride-accident-n786901
