Ohio State Fair accident kills 1, injures 7; Fire Ball, other rides shut down

[onedef92]

Ohio State Fair accident kills 1, injures 7; Fire Ball, other rides shut down

Published 8:18 p.m. ET July 26, 2017
Updated 8:23 a.m. ET July 27, 2017

COLUMBUS - One man died and seven people were injured Wednesday in a ride accident at the Ohio State Fair. After an order from the governor, rides went dark and will not reopen until they receive further inspections Thursday.

"The fair is about the best things in life, and today with this accident, it becomes a terrible, terrible tragedy," Ohio Gov. John Kasich told reporters Wednesday, the fair's opening day.

The Fire Ball ride malfunctioned just before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, throwing riders at high speeds into the air, hospital and fire officials said. The man who died in the accident was found about 50 feet from the attraction, said Steve Martin, battalion chief with the Columbus Fire Department.

In video of the incident posted to YouTube, a loud crashing noise can be heard as the arm of the ride swings upward and a large piece of it falls off. At least two bodies appear to fall as well.

On the State Fair midway late Wednesday, orange seats from the Fire Ball ride rested on the ground, surrounded by other debris. The rest of the ride appeared to be intact. A single tennis shoe rested on the ground at the base of the ride.

Of those injured, five were taken to area hospitals. The three taken to Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center were all in intensive care late Wednesday with mostly orthopedic injuries, and one person was in surgery, said Dr. David Evans, a trauma surgeon at the hospital. Early Thursday, one of the patients was in serious condition and two were in critical condition.

The State Fair accident was like a car crash, Evans said, with riders thrown at least 20 to 30 feet in the air. The victims taken to the Ohio State hospital will probably require stays of at least a week, he said.

The Fire Ball, an "aggressive thrill" ride, swings riders 40 feet above the midway while spinning them at 13 revolutions per minute, according to Amusements of America, the company providing rides at the fair this year. Fire Ball debuted in 2002, the company says on its website.
The Fire Ball ride at the Ohio State Fair, shown Wednesday

The Fire Ball ride at the Ohio State Fair, shown Wednesday morning. One man died later Wednesday and seven people were injured after an accident with this ride. (Photo: Provided)

The ride had received multiple inspections before Wednesday’s opening day incident, Kasich said. That included checks by a company, Comspeq, plus the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which inspects more than 4,000 rides statewide, including those at Kings Island and Cedar Point.

“We do not rush inspections,” said David Daniels, director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture. The department's chief inspector, Mike Vartorella, said his grandchildren ride the attractions at the State Fair.

Documents shared by the state show the Fire Ball passed structural and electrical checks on Wednesday. That particular ride also passed inspections at the Meadowlands State Fair in New Jersey, where it was checked from June 22 to July 9. The latest repair was to a cylinder on a seat on May 15. The front trailer was replaced May 6.

Eleven Ohio State Fair rides did not run Wednesday because they failed inspection. But inspectors had not flagged the Fire Ball for closure.

"Safety is our number one priority," says the website of the ride provider. "All Amusements of America rides are regularly checked daily by our safety professionals.

"To ensure regulatory standards, licensing requirements and rider safety, the rides undergo consistent on-site inspections. These frequent comprehensive inspections are by conducted by local and state inspectors. We will present only rides that are modern, well illuminated and in safe operating condition."

The company did not immediately return an Associated Press phone message seeking comment.

The annual fair runs through Aug. 6. It will reopen Thursday.

OHIO STATE FAIR RIDE ACCIDENT Ride Malfunctions at the Ohio State Fair - YouTube

[onedef92]

Another piece of the joy of Americana lost. I wonder how many people will go to the fair now?

After seeing the video I think most people will just stay home, or parents won't let their children on that ride. I'm not sure I would do it on rides of that speed and height.

Even when they pass inspection, they're bundled up and taken to another state within a week. They can be "deemed fit" after a few test runs, yet bolts and other critical components can experience vibrations, torsional stress and other physical issues and come loose.

Reckon fair rides will ultimately go the way of Ringling Barnum & Bailey Circus?

[RedLS1GTO]

Damn.

[VITE1]

[snide]

[VatorMan]

I have to admit, the carnival that our county uses-the rides always look in good condition. At least a good 90% of the carnies have the majority of their teeth.

[onedef92]

Originally Posted by VatorMan

I have to admit, the carnival that our county uses-the rides always look in good condition. At least a good 90% of the carnies have the majority of their teeth.

Hopefully, that's not an inspector criterion....

[boracayjohnny]

Sad

[mrvette]

Tried and proven rides/amusements just not enough these daze for some reason, they go out and push the envelope of fizz-icks and have a damn icky mess on their hands.....

[Bill]

Off topic, but I wonder if the official name is, "The Ohio State Fair."

[OddBall]

Originally Posted by onedef92

Another piece of the joy of Americana lost. I wonder how many people will go to the fair now?

After seeing the video I think most people will just stay home, or parents won't let their children on that ride. I'm not sure I would do it on rides of that speed and height.

Even when they pass inspection, they're bundled up and taken to another state within a week. They can be "deemed fit" after a few test runs, yet bolts and other critical components can experience vibrations, torsional stress and other physical issues and come loose.

Reckon fair rides will ultimately go the way of Ringling Barnum & Bailey Circus?

Statistically, the drive to the fairgrounds is considerably more lethal.

But it's still a terrible way to go, just the same.

Prayers to all involved.

[Allan]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

Off topic, but I wonder if the official name is, "The Ohio State Fair."

Nah however, it is THE Ohio State University.

The state fairgrounds is close to 2 Level I Trauma Centers in Columbus.

3 more persons have been released from these 2 hospitals and Children's Hospital.

The remaining injured are listed in Critical or Serious condition.

[boracayjohnny]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

Off topic, but I wonder if the official name is, "The Ohio State Fair."

[Kerrmudgeon]

Mechanical things break. Maybe rarely, but they still break, that's the nature of metallurgy, stress, and age. I tend to shy away from mechanical things that if they break could kill me. Especially for entertainment.

for the killed and injured.

[onedef92]

It's like a surreal clip from that "Final Destination 3" movie. I pray it's not the result of terrorists (foreign or domestic) or politically motivated by some deranged, anti-Trump loony tune.

Final Destination 3 - Rollercoaster Scene - YouTube

[WalkerInTN]

Originally Posted by mrvette

Tried and proven rides/amusements just not enough these daze for some reason, they go out and push the envelope of fizz-icks and have a damn icky mess on their hands.....

Really not sure what you're going on about, that type of ride has been around for at least 3 decades. It's definitely not a new type of ride. I remember riding one just like it when I was a teen in S.C.

[stingraymyway]

Just last year, three kids were hurt when a Ferris wheel bucket tipped, dropping the kids from about 25 feet. The fair board shut every ride down.
I've never trusted those rides. They're thrown together and half ass inspected.

[Kerrmudgeon]

Do you really want to risk your life on the mechanical skills of these guys?

[MrPeabody]

Originally Posted by Kerrmudgeon

Do you really want to risk your life on the mechanical skills of these guys?

I would trust them before I would trust the guys at the Ford dealership where I was a service writer.

[stingraymyway]

Originally Posted by MrPeabody

I would trust them before I would trust the guys at the Ford dealership where I was a service writer.