The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
State fair officials reassure about safety
State officials and amusement industry executives worked to reassure visitors Monday that the 2018 Ohio State Fair will be safe a year after a catastrophic ride failure left an 18-year-old dead and seven others injured.
The effort came ahead of Wednesday’s opening day, when thousands of people will begin returning to the fairgrounds where Tyler Jarrell was killed when the Fire Ball ride broke apart.
“We continue to have the utmost confidence in the skills and capabilities of our inspectors to carry out the statutory duties that they’re required to,” said Ohio Agriculture Director David Daniels. He said the 2017 accident was a tragic mechanical error but that Ohio’s inspection program remains one of the best in the nation.
Robert Johnson, president of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association, which represents the amusement ride industry, said the accident has prompted a strong industry response across the nation and world.
“When you come to a state fair like this, you want a diverse variety of rides for all the demographics, not only children but for adults and teens,” Johnson said. “So when you have (an accident involving) a spectacular ride, or a super spectacular ride like that one, it’s a wake-up call. It’s our 9/11 experience, unfortunately.”
The state never concluded why the Fire Ball’s support beams became so corroded on the inside resulting in its ultimate failure. The ride’s manufacturer, Netherlands-based KMG, issued its findings nine days after the malfunction: “Excessive corrosion on the interior of the gondola support beam dangerously reduced the beam’s wall thickness over the years. This finally led to a catastrophic failure of the ride during operation.”
The Columbus Dispatch reported the company had been put on notice in 2012 about the potential rusting issue. The company, which did not return calls for comment, had set a new required thickness of 3.8mm, down from 6mm, on steel support beams required to operate the ride, according to a letter from KGM to ride operators North American Midway Entertainment in Brantford, Ontario, that was obtained by the newspaper.
Video of the July 26, 2017, Fire Ball accident showed gondolas holding multiple riders shearing apart during operation, ejecting riders in mid-swing and plunging them to the ground. Jarrell died of blunt force trauma injuries after being tossed 50 feet into the air when the ride broke apart.
Gov. John Kasich urged the Agriculture Department “to seek additional best practices and new ways we can improve safety,” said spokesman Jon Keeling. However, a tougher inspection law requiring changes to the current system languished in the Legislature.