![]() The ride was said to have been inspected multiple times, including by a third-party inspector. Michael Vartorella, chief ride inspector of the Amusement Ride Safety Division, told reporters Wednesday night that the ride had no red flags during inspections. Wednesday marked the first day of the 11-day long fair. David Evans of Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, which received three patients from the incident, said, "Multiple passengers were ejected at high speed" from the ride, traveled at least 20-30 feet and then "crashed at a significant distance from the ride." A video that has gone viral on several social networking platforms confirms that a gondola snapped from the ride.ĭr. Multiple eyewitnesses said that a row of the ride snapped off, causing several riders to plunge to the ground. local time, which is when Ohio Highway Patrol was notified of the incident.Īmong the seven injured, three are in critical condition, according to Paul Pride of the Ohio Highway Patrol. A spokesperson for the State Fair of Texas, which begins in late September, has said the fair will not have the ride in its selection as a result of the Ohio State Fair incident.One person has died and seven others were injured when a "Fireball" ride malfunctioned Wednesday evening at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, causing an entire row of riders to be ejected from the attraction. The Kentucky State Fair has also stopped operations of all Fire Ball rides operated by their operators until further notice. The Indiana State Fair announced that it will not operate the ride at the 2017 fair. The California State Fair has also followed suit, shutting down the ride. The North Carolina Department of Labor has shut down the Fire Ball ride in the state. In the aftermath of an unexplained ride malfunction, other states are taking action to protect fair goers and riders. While the Ohio State Fair reopened on Thursday, all rides were closed pending further inspection. Wednesday night was the first night of the 11-day fair in Columbus. The end of summer marks the start of fair season. According to Michael Vartorella, the chief ride inspector of the Amusement Ride Safety Division, the ride had no red flags during inspections.Īn 18-year-old man died and seven others were injured. The Department of Agriculture is responsible for inspections of all rides. All of the riders were ejected from the ride. It is classified as an 'aggressive thrill' ride.Īround 7:24 p.m., a gondola with four passengers separated from the Fire Ball ride at the Ohio State Fair. According to the company, the ride made its debut in 2002. The Fire Ball was provided to the Ohio State Fair by Amusements of America. When marketed in other countries, it is known as the Afterburner.Īccording to the KMG website, construction of the attraction takes 3 to 4 hours with a three person crew. In the United States, the ride is commonly known as the Fire Ball. ![]() At this angle, riders are at the halfway point of being turned completely upside down. The swinging continues until the ride hits its peak of 120 degrees. ![]() As momentum picks up, the arms begin to rotate. Ride protocol calls for riders to be secured before the loading platform lowers and the claw begins to slowly swing. It was one of these gondolas that broke off of the ride in Columbus. Each rider is secured into the cabin with an over-the-shoulder harness. At maximum capacity, the ride can accommodate 24 riders at one time. Six individual arms are on the ride, with each arm attaching to a gondola-style cabin that can fit up to four passengers. David Evans of Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center said, "Multiple passengers were ejected at high speed" from the ride, traveled at least 20-30 feet and then "crashed at a significant distance from the ride."Ĭreated by Dutch manufacturer KMG, Fireball is a pendulum style ride that weighs 54 tons. RELATED: Video shows moment Ohio State Fair ride broke mid-swing, killing 1 and hurting 7ĭr. On Wednesday evening, an 18 year-old man was killed and seven others were injured after a ride malfunctioned at the Ohio State Fair.Īccording to Ohio Highway Patrol, three of the riders who were injured are in critical condition. ![]()
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