Park Officials Close Fire Ball Rides
Following the death of one person and injuries incurred by seven others in Ohio because of a defective amusement park ride, the ride has been closed at all locations in California, including at Sacramento’s California State Fair. This precautionary measure has been taken to protect Californians from the same type of accident that occurred on July 26 in Columbus, Ohio, taking the life of an 18-year-old Marine.
This popular ride, called Fire Ball, is a 40-foot tall structure that moves like a pendulum and has a minimum of six rows of seats that spin around in the air and was featured as one of the rides at the Ohio State Fair. The ride itself had reportedly been inspected numerous times shortly before the incident, and inspectors had deemed the ride safe.
Death and Injuries From the Accident
In addition to the death of the young Marine, Tyler Jarrell, the seven other people who were injured ranged from the ages of 14 to 42. When the ride broke apart while in operation, some of the riders were tossed out, landing on the concrete below. Two of the those who fell from the ride are reported to be in critical condition, while another is listed in serious condition.
California State Fair Officials Close Ride
Because of the Ohio accident, officials have closed the ride in Sacramento and other Fire Ball type rides in Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Belmont Park, Buena Park and at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa. When parks were notified of the closure, some had already shut down their rides as a safety precaution. In response to the accident, the manufacturer of the Fire Ball and similar rides, KMG International BV, has instructed operators to cease operating this ride and other similar rides such as Move-It and Afterburner until the accident has been investigated and a cause determined.
Amusement Park Injuries
According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions survey of 2016, there were 1,508 injuries suffered on rides in 2015, which showed an increase of 32 percent over the previous year. Most injuries occurred on adult and family rides, while the smallest proportion occurred on rides for children. Recorded fatalities from rides in 2015 were 154, an increase of 137 more than the previous year. Common types of injuries include:
- Head injuries
- Broken bones
- Back injuries resulting in chronic pain
Liability for an Amusement Ride Injury
The venue or amusement park that supplies the ride may be liable for damages resulting from injuries suffered on that ride. In addition, the manufacturer may be held liable if it can be shown that the ride was defective. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is responsible for the inspection of mechanical rides. However, it is obvious from the above accident that even inspected rides can go wrong and cause serious injuries and deaths. When you have lost a loved one or have suffered a serious injury, contacting an attorney who is experienced in this sort of accident injury is important to recover fair compensation.
Attorney Ed Smith
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. Amusement ride manufacturers and owners are responsible for maintaining rides in safe working order to avoid accidents. If you or your loved one suffered an injury or your family experienced a wrongful death due to a faulty or poorly maintained amusement ride, call me at (916) 921-6400 for my friendly and free advice. For those outside the calling area, use my (800) 404-5400 toll-free line.
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Photo Attribution: Amusements of America – Carnival & Amusement Rides: Fire Ball
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