Twelve injured in Washington after ride at fair topples over
Sunday, April 19, 2009
At least twelve children have been injured after a swing ride at the Puyallup, Washington Spring Fair toppled over.
The ride is called a 'LollySwing', which is located in Kiddyland, where the riders sit in swings while the machine spins them around. It is owned by Funtastic Traveling Shows which has been a ride provider for the fair for over 50 years. The accident happened at around 6:30 p.m. (PDT).
Injuries are being described as mostly cuts and bruises, but one child was reported to have been in a neck brace and was taken to a local hospital. Five other children were also hospitalized.
According to one witness, "it just all of a sudden topped over." The cause is under investigation. The ride has been at the fair for the past five years. Among the seven largest operators of fair rides in Washington, from 2001 to 2007 there were only seven reports of injuries related to mechanical failures.
Sources
- Casey McNerthney. "Child hospitalized after ride accident at Puyallup Fair" — Seattle Post Intelligencer, April 17, 2009
- "Ride topples at Puyallup Spring Fair" — KINGS5, April 17, 2009
- "Puyallup Fair ride accident injures 12 children" — Seattle Times, April 17, 2009
- Associated Press. "WA amusement ride topples; 1 child to hospital" — Seattle Post Intelligencer, April 17, 2009