LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- There were watchful eyes at the Kentucky State Fair, after news of a worker being hurt last weekend while inspecting the Fireball ride. That ride has been removed. But fair officials kept news of the injury under wraps for five days.
North American Midway Entertainment runs the Thrillville midway at the fair. The company's Amy Girton explained that the accident injury happened during set up on August 18. "They were doing a pre-inspection with the Fireball and the employee became injured while inspecting the unloading platform."
The employee was taken to a hospital for treatment. Girton said she couldn't discuss the employee's information due to privacy laws but said the injuries weren't life-threatening.
No guests were hurt, but fair officials had the Fireball ride removed from the property.
James Graham is one of the thousands of people enjoying the fair this week. He said one less ride on the midway is okay with him. "I guess that's a good thing keeps everyone safe that way. If someone got hurt setting it up, that's a little scary."
The Fireball was the same type of ride that broke apart last year at the Ohio State Fair that killed an 18-year-old and injured several others.
Girton said "We were not the midway provider at the Ohio State Fair. That was not our Fireball. Not our company. We were not involved in that."
But North American Midway Entertainment did pull three of its Fireballs out of operation, after the accident. We're told the manufacturer sent a bulletin requiring companies who owned the attraction to make a $200,000 repair to the seats and gondolas. Girton said NAME only repaired one Fireball, which was the one that came to Kentucky State Fair. It had recently been put back in rotation.
Inspectors examining midway attractions last week said the ride had been outfitted with brand new parts for this year's Kentucky State Fair. However, Jason Glass, the director of regulation and inspection for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, also cautioned that there is never a 100 percent guarantee a ride won't malfunction.
"Like everything, there are some risks involved," Glass said. "We try to mitigate those. The last thing the department and these ride operators want is an accident, but they are mechanical devices that can fail. But we hope that it doesn't happen."
All other rides have been inspected and are operating.
Related:
- Inspectors examining attractions before this year's Ky. State Fair
- State Fair to tweak its traffic plan in advance of expected big closing weekend
- Entertainment and food around every corner at the 2018 Kentucky State Fair
Copyright 2018 WDRB News. The Associated Press contributed to this story. All rights reserved.
