Summit County fair officials review ride breakdown that injured three children

April Helms, Akron Beacon Journal
·4 min read
From front, Cruz Kramer, 5, Cohen Brown, 3, and Remi Kramer, 2, all from Rootstown, at the Summit County Fair. This photo was taken moments before the car they were on fell off of the ride and fell to the ground. They sustained minor injuries.
From front, Cruz Kramer, 5, Cohen Brown, 3, and Remi Kramer, 2, all from Rootstown, at the Summit County Fair. This photo was taken moments before the car they were on fell off of the ride and fell to the ground. They sustained minor injuries.

Organizers of the Summit County Fair said they will review a July 29 ride accident and what could be done to prevent a similar incident in the future.

A ride car holding three small children broke off and fell about 18 inches to the ground. The children were treated for minor injuries and released.

Car on ride falls:Minor injuries reported to children after ride breaks down at Summit County Fair

Cathy Cunningham, the fair manager, said in an earlier interview that onsite fire and EMS workers responded quickly. She added that the ride was closed down for the rest of the day and the state inspection bureau contacted. The ride was fixed and operational the next day.

"Our volunteer board of directors will meet with the ride company, talk with [the Ohio Department of Agriculture] and go over the incident to see what better we can do," Cunningham said. "We follow all safety guidelines and have implemented extra safety guidelines that Ohio does not require. For example six years ago we implemented an hour safety break each day where our rides close during the midday for an hour to give the operator an extra break and are inspected before reopening."

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Shelby Croft, the director of communications for the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which oversees amusement ride inspections and safety, said the ride had been inspected June 9.

"ODA has received documentation that the ride has been repaired by a certified welder," Croft said. "ODA will perform a reinspection of the ride at its next location. "

Croft said that Tyler's Law, which took effect in 2020, "strengthened the inspection standards, making stricter requirements for the frequency of inspections and number of inspectors who perform them."

According to information from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the law was named for Tyler Jarrell who died in 2017 after being thrown from a ride at the Ohio State Fair. The law calls for annual visual inspections of rides, documenting the findings through the life of the ride, and submit a list of all locations and dates where any portable ride was stored for a period longer than 30 days or operated outside the state of Ohio.

In August 2021, a woman was seriously injured while standing in line for the Top Thrill Dragster ride at Cedar Point. ODA stated an L-shaped bracket, known as a flag plate, which was approximately the size of an adult male's hand, dislodged from the left side of the ride’s green train car and struck the victim in the head. Upon inspection, it was determined that half of the bolts which secured the plate to the train body had also dislodged. No violations were levied against Cedar Point, however, the ride was not reopened in 2022.

No citationsCedar Point had no knowledge Top Thrill Dragster 'was in an unsafe condition,' state says

Thaddeus Harrington, public affairs specialist with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, said from 2017 to 2019, there was an annual average of 34,700 injuries associated with amusement attractions, including water slides.

In 2020, 12,400 injuries were seen in U.S. hospital emergency departments, although Harrington added that "the large decrease [was] likely due to COVID closures."

Harrington said that since 2018, "CPSC is aware of 15 deaths associated with amusement attractions," with three of the deaths from home inflatable structures.

Tips to remain safe on amusement park rides

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Safety includes several suggestions to keep riders safe on amusement and fair rides:

  • Obey listed age, height, weight, and health restrictions.

  • Observe all posted ride safety rules, and follow all verbal instructions given by ride operators or provided by recorded announcements.

  • Keep hands, arms, legs and feet inside the ride at all times.

  • Secure all loose articles, including wallets, change, sunglasses, cell phones, and hats.

  • Do not board a ride impaired.

  • Remain seated in the ride until it comes to a complete stop and you are instructed to exit.

  • Always use safety equipment provided and never attempt to wriggle free of or loosen restraints or other safety devices.

  • Parents should make sure their children can understand and follow safe and appropriate ride behavior.

  • Never force anyone, especially children, to ride attractions they don’t want to ride.

  • If you see any unsafe behavior or condition on a ride, report it to a supervisor or manager immediately.

Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Summit County fair officials review ride accident that injured three