A young girl fell from the gondola ride at the Florida State Fair Saturday night.
Three members of the same family, all under the age of 10, were riding the gondola across the fairgrounds around 8:40 p.m., according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
The 7-year-old girl slipped under the safety bar and fell 35 to 40 feet onto a grassy area.
The girl was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, including a possible broken wrist.
Florida State Fair 2022: From prices to entertainment, here's what you need to know
Thrill rides safe? Coasters are scary, but pretty safe
Detectives determined the incident to be an accident.
The ride was shut down for a time before resuming operation.
About 10 people killed every year at amusement parks, traveling carnivals
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has been involved in the potential hazards associated with amusement park rides since its creation in 1973.
Statistics compiled by Safety Commission indicate that approximately 10 deaths occur every year which are associated with amusement rides at permanent amusement parks and traveling carnivals. There are an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 injuries every year on rides.
In 1977, the commission filed suit against the Chance Manufacturing Co. of Wichita, Kansas, the manufacturer of a ride called the "Zipper." Over a four-year period prior to 1977, four people had been killed in four separate accidents when the locking mechanism on the Zipper's door failed, causing the door to open in mid-air. The case was settled out of court.
In August 1980, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued formal complaints involving amusement ride accidents at three amusement parks in Texas, California and Illinois.
At the State Fair of Texas in 1979, a Skyride accident resulted in the death of one man and injuries to 17 others when two of the Skyride's gondolas fell approximately 70 feet onto the midway area of the state fair.
Another complaint against the Marriott Corporation follows an accident on March 1980, in which a 14-year-old boy was killed and eight other persons injured when two cars of the Willard's Whizzer collided at the Great America park in Santa Clara, California.
10-year-old boy dies on world's tallest water slide
Authorities are still investigating how the boy died on the the 17-story 'Verruckt' water slide at Schlitterbahn Water Park.
USA TODAY NETWORK
In 2016, a 10-year-old boy was decapitated when going down the world's tallest waterslide at the Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts and its park in Kansas City, Kansas.
The 168-foot slide was later demolished.
In 2017, one person was killed and 7 injured when a ride at the Ohio State Fair broke apart. Some of the victims were thrown from the Fire Ball ride.
Fire Ball fatality: 1 dead, 7 hurt on ride at Ohio State Fair
Hidden rust: Fair ride's deadly corrosion was likely inside arm that broke
In May 1984, eight teenagers were killed at Six Flags Great Adventure when a 14-year-old boy with a lighter walked into the Haunted Castle eight teenagers were killed at Six Flags Great Adventure.
Are they safe? 35 years after the fatal Haunted Castle fire at Six Flags Great Adventure, are your theme parks safe?
Within an hour, the attraction was left in smoldering ruins, making it one of the nation's deadliest amusement park tragedies.
Facebook Twitter Email
Height | 216 feet (65.8 m)[1][2] |
Weight | 678,554 lb (307,787 kg)[citation needed] |
Cost | $2.2 million[3] |
Texas Star is a Ferris wheel at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas, where it operates during the annual State Fair of Texas[2] as its most popular ride.[4]
With an overall height of 216 feet (65.8 m), it was the tallest Ferris wheel in North America[1][4] from 1985 until the opening of the 250-foot (76 m) Star of Puebla in Mexico, on 22 July 2013.[5]
It can carry up to 264 passengers in its 44 gondolas.[6] The view is one of the things that entice people to ride on it.[7]
Texas Star illuminated at night
Built by SDC Corp. in Reggio Emilia, Italy, at a cost of $2.2 million,[3] it was shipped to Dallas for its debut at the 1985 State Fair of Texas.[8] It is owned by Barbara Brown and her brother Mike Sandefur.[9][10]
From 1985 to 2007 it was illuminated at night by 16,000 incandescent red, white, and blue turbolites.[11] In 2008, this system was replaced with a longer-lasting, more energy-efficient LED system.[12]
References[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Texas Star.
- ^ a b Heingartner, Douglas (July 28, 2007). "The Bigger Ferris Wheels Get, the More Cash Flows". The New York Times.
- ^ a b "General Information". BigTex.com.
- ^ a b "State Fair Fact". Dallas Morning News. September 30, 2005.
- ^ a b Weiss, Jeffrey (October 6, 1994). "Riding high; At 216 feet, Texas Star Ferris wheel remains a top thrill for fairgoers". Dallas Morning News.
- ^ Puebla, Mexico becomes first site of Bussink R80XL Wheel
- ^ McLeese, Don (October 5, 1996). "Sights, sounds and smells of 110-year-old Texas tradition marvel for all ages Texas State". Austin American-Statesman.
- ^ "A ride with a view". Dallas Morning News. October 16, 1991.
- ^ Halford, Bob (August 2, 1985). "Giant Ferris wheel called Texas Star to rise at Fair Park". Dallas Morning News.
- ^ "Barbara Brown, co-owner of the Texas Star". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 25, 1998.
- ^ Wertheimer, Linda K. (October 20, 2002). "The 'Star' of the State Fair; Popular Ferris wheel has been a family attraction since 1985". Dallas Morning News.
- ^ Wilson, Janet (September 15, 2002). "Happy Birthday, Big Tex". Austin American-Statesman.
- ^ "The lights just got brighter at Dallas landmark, the Texas Star" (Press release). State Fair of Texas. September 18, 2008.
Coordinates: 32°46′36″N 96°45′33″W / 32.776738°N 96.759269°W