Chicago (AFP) – The manufacturer of an amusement ride that broke apart at the Ohio State Fair, killing one and injuring seven, said Sunday the accident was caused by corrosion on a support beam.
A gondola of the Fireball ride had detached while in motion on July 26, throwing several passengers through the air.
“It was determined that excessive corrosion on the interior of the gondola support beam dangerously reduced the beam’s wall thickness over the years. This finally led to the catastrophic failure of the ride during operation,” the ride’s manufacturer, Netherlands-based KMG, said in a statement.
Following the accident in Columbus, capital of the Midwestern state of Ohio, KMG had urged all operators of the ride — also known as Afterburner or FRB24 — to cease operations immediately.
It said Sunday that it has worked with safety experts to develop an inspection protocol that will allow “properly inspected and maintained rides to safely reopen.”
The ride in Ohio, which was 18 years old according to KMG, had passed an inspection, state records showed.
Authorities closed all rides at the Ohio fair following the accident.
Tyler Jarrell, 18, died after being thrown from the ride and landing 50 feet (15 meters) away.
The seven injured ranged in age from 14 to 42. Some were struck by debris while others were on the section that broke off.
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