Lethbridge Herald

Edmonton shutters fair ride

- THE CANADIAN PRESS — EDMONTON

A popular midway ride at this week’s K-Days fair and exhibition in Edmonton has been shut down as a precaution after a deadly accident involving the same attraction at the Ohio State Fair.

North American Midway Entertainm­ent, the company that provides attraction­s to KDays, says in a statement released Wednesday night that the ride, called the Fire Ball, has been closed until further notice.

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

Video captured by a bystander shows the machine crashing into something and breaking apart, throwing riders to the ground.

The ride, which swings passengers back and forth as it spins them around, had successful­ly passed inspection before the state fair opened.

Officials are still investigat­ing the cause of the accident.

“While North American Midway Entertainm­ent is not the midway provider at the Ohio State Fair, due to the tragic incident there this evening we will keep all our Fire Ball rides closed until further notice from the manufactur­er for precaution­ary safety measures,” the company said in its statement posted on Facebook.

Lori Cote, the manager of communicat­ions for K-Days, confirmed to the media that the ride was being shut down.

“Our thoughts are with those affected by the tragic accident in Ohio,” Cote said in an emailed statement.

“As safety is our number 1 priority, we support our midway provider’s decision to close the Fire Ball ride until further notice.”

K-Days, formerly known as Klondike Days, runs this year from July 21 to July 30.

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