At a time when summer fairs are most popular for families, a tragic accident occurred when an amusement park ride malfunctioned according to reports in the New York Daily News. Video footage of the event showed that the seat of a ride called the “Fire Ball” broke and disconnected from the main pendulum. This sent ride accident victims crashing down to the ground, causing various degrees of injuries to seven people. Another man was killed in the accident after apparently being ejected from the machine and thrown into the air. Public safety experts note that the ride in question had been inspected several years ago for possible cracks and other dangers, at the request of the manufacturer. At that time, the manufacturer reported that there were concerns regarding a welding failure that could cause cracking and deadly malfunctions. However, it was unclear whether the ride had undergone more recent safety inspections to that degree to ensure rider safety. Advocates explain that cursory inspections are sometimes the only thing done before allowing unsuspecting fun-seekers from riding potentially dangerous rides. They say that regular maintenance is crucial as well as in-depth evaluations of all aspects of the equipment to avoid accidents and injuries. Some owners and operators avoid the high costs involved and negligent maintenance can sometimes be the result. This negligence is most concerning when dealing with equipment such as these carnival rides that move fast and high and often include high impact forces. This ride would swing people up to 40 feet in the air as it twisted and turned and then swung back and forth. Detailed evaluation and fixing of broken or deteriorated parts is essential given the heavy use and potential for harm involved. You can see more about this deadly amusement park accident with equipment failure here.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Ava [License]