Passenger plunges to his death at United States fair as ride comes apart

Authorities stand near the Fire Ball amusement ride after the ride malfunctioned injuring several at the Ohio State Fair Wednesday night
Edmonton K-Days ride shut down after fatal accident in Ohio
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31 July, 2017

Riders on the Fire Ball are swung back and forth in the air as if they're on a pendulum.

Scooter Korek says North American Midway Entertainment will not allow people back on the Fire Ball thrill ride until investigations in OH and by the manufacturer are complete.

The announcement came the same day one person was killed and seven others were injured - two of them critically - at the fair in Columbus.

In Ontario, amusement park ride safety is overseen by Technical Safety and Standards Authority. Some other rides were due to stay closed until safety checks had been made.

The North American Midway is confident the Fire Ball ride could be back at the Calgary Stampede as early as next year, after a tragedy in OH forced the operator to shut down all three of its rides until further notice.

The company said it shut down the ride within a half an hour of hearing the report that a man had died when the Fire Ball fell apart at the OH state fair.

According to its website, the Indiana-based ride operator also has midways coming up in Regina, Sask. and Saskatoon, Sask. next month, but it's unclear if the Fire Ball was to be included in those events.

Officials are still investigating the cause of the accident. "Since then we have also chose to shut down the Freak Out ride which is also made by the same manufacturer", said Becky Shroyer the Communications Director for the company.

"Our thoughts are with those affected by the tragic accident in OH this evening", Cote said in an emailed statement.

"Safety is a top priority at the CNE", the statement said.

In addition to the provincial oversight, Korek said the staff who operate the rides for North American Midway Entertainment perform daily inspections themselves.

Formerly known as Klondike Days, K-Days is an annual 10-day exhibition held in Edmonton at the end of July. Officials with the California State Fair in Sacramento also announced they shut down their Fire Ball ride immediately after the OH accident.

Ippolito said if anything, he felt better knowing the North American Midway Entertainment company had taken steps to close down the Fire Ball while the manufacturer looks at the issue. The PNE said in a statement on Thursday that they would be conducting "supplemental inspections of all aspects of the ride".


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