Carnival ride collapses in California; 24 injured

[marmar]

How long before we hear about the lapsed inspection process that led to this? More E. coli conservatism at work.



from AP, via Yahoo!:



Carnival ride collapses in California; 24 injured
44 minutes ago


ANGELS CAMP, Calif. - A carnival ride spinning with people collapsed at a county fair Friday night, injuring all 24 people aboard.

The carnival ride, called the Yo-Yo, collapsed shortly after 6 p.m. Friday at the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee, about 80 miles southeast of Sacramento.

The ride has metal arms, each with a seat at the end attached by a chain, that swing outward as the ride picks up speed. The arms rise and fall as they spin around a center pole, putting the seats horizontal to the ground.

The pole apparently collapsed, causing the arms to crash back toward the center, said Dennis Townsend, a chief in the Calaveras County unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention.

The riders — mostly children — were hurt when their seats struck the ground or other parts of the machine, he said.

Three riders were airlifted to hospitals in Modesto and Sacramento, but the extent of the injuries was not immediately known, said Sgt. Dave Seawell, a spokesman for the Calaveras County Sheriff's Department. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080517/ap_on_re_us/ride_collapse

[spanone]

1. cnn just reported on the 'amusement' industry...no federal regulation NONE

traveling shows are regulated but permanent rides are subject to only state inspections....some have no inspections at all

[KharmaTrain]

3. Never Have Been...

The only thing that keeps rides safe are the liability insurance...the fear of a big lawsuit and many of the towns that hold carnivals around here demand that any vendor have insurance...so its felt this is their safeguard that the rides are safe, but, yes, it's playing with a lot of fire.

Long ago I knew a "carnie"...a man who spent 7 months on the road going from one town to another with a couple of rides. It was a rough life and it was the insurance that drove him out...it got so expensive (this was in the late 70s) that he gave up.

Here's where state budget cutting is felt...with a $10 billion dollar defecit, safety inspectors tend to be an added expense...and, as always, people are hurt or killed.

It'll be interesting to see if this operator had insurance...and comes at a real bad time...right as the prime carnival season is about to begin....one of the few places some people will be able to get away to this summer.

[China_cat]

6. I was on the road for more than 8 years.

I wouldn't let my kids or my grandkids anywhere near a carnival ride. I've seen how they go up (target time; less than 3 hours) and come down (target time; 2 hours or less) at least once a week for about 8 months of the year.

And honey, I can tell you from experience that 'state inspections' consist of cash and comped admittance (plus a few pieces of plush) to the inspectors.

[90-percent]

2. circuses

the traveling mobile circus caravans are a disaster waiting to happen.

The nomadic nature of these operations makes them wayyy under the radar in terms of standardized regulation.

As far as I'm concerned, anyone going on the rides of these things set up in the parking lots of departed walmarts is taking a very serious risk.

-90% Jimmy

[Inspired]

4. I'm surprised these accidents don't happen more often.

These rides are extremely dangerous when you think of how they are operated and how often each ride is torn down and set back up. Is this part of the 'thrill'? No thanks!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Yahoo had a news story the other day

about the young girl who lost both her feet in an amusement ride accident last year--she was calling for more regulation of these rides. Of course, the amusement companies said there were "enough". I think this latest incident belies that claim.