Fatal accident

Victim had just joined Marines

Tyler Jarrell, 18, made up his mind early about life after high school. He wanted a challenge, and he looked to the Marine Corps to provide it.

He enlisted on July 21 with a training date set for next summer, following graduation. After a flurry of enlistment paperwork over summer break, Jarrell made time for the year’s biggest attraction in his home town of Columbus — the Ohio State Fair, which opened Wednesday.

Jarrell was killed when he was thrown off an amusement ride, the Fire Ball — an “aggressive thrill” carnival ride that swoops like a pendulum and swings in a circle — after a row of seats appeared to smash into a metal structural support beam. The accident left seven others injured, some of them critically, in what Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich called “the worst tragedy in the history of the fair.”

Staff Sgt. James Hopper of the Marine Corps Columbus recruiting station told The Washington Post that Jarrell was a highly motivated recruit among the other “poolies” who wanted to serve in a tough role such as infantry or combat engineering.

“He wanted to serve and do something that would make a huge difference and impact on his life,” Hopper said. “He was a good kid, he was funny and great to be around.”

Hopper said he had heard about the accident but learned later that it was Jarrell who was killed.

“The Marines here are greatly saddened by this tragedy. We are truly proud to have known him as one of the brave few willing to step up and serve his country in the United States Marine Corps,” a statement from the service read.

Navy Capt. Gerard “Tom” Lennon Jr. told the Columbus Dispatch that Jarrell had participated in the Navy junior cadet program at Franklin Heights High School for three years.

“Tyler was an absolute delight. Like so many young people, he spent the last year figuring out what he wanted in life. And he had done so, and he had put the steps in place to make it happen. He was so proud to be serving his country,” Lennon told the Dispatch. “My heart is broken.”

Keziah Lewis, Jarrell’s girlfriend, was with him on the ride. She suffered pelvis, ankle and rib injuries and was operated on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, the Dispatch reported.

Last year more than 900,000 people attended the fair.