Wildwood amusement ride shut down after Ohio tragedy

A fatal amusement ride accident at the Ohio State Fair has resulted in a closure at the Jersey Shore. 

The ride known as “Fireball” on the midway at the Ohio State Fair is similar to the ride known as “IT” at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, New Jersey.

A post on Morey’s Pier’s Facebook page says their ride will be shut down for a couple of weeks because of the Ohio incident. No other details are provided. 

In that accident, the Fire Ball broke apart on the opening day of the Ohio State Fair on Wednesday, hurtling people through the air, killing at least one and injuring seven others.

Three of the injured remained hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday night, authorities said at a late-night news conference.

Dramatic video captured by a bystander shows the ride swinging back and forth like a pendulum and spinning in the air when it crashes into something and part of the ride flies off, throwing riders to the ground.

The ride’s Dutch manufacturer told operators of the same attraction at fairs and festivals around the world to stop using it until more is learned about what caused the malfunction.

Authorities say a review of records in Ohio show Inspectors repeatedly looked over the thrill ride while it was assembled at the Ohio State Fair and signed off on it hours before to broke apart.

In Pennsylvania, carnival rides are reviewed  by private inspectors licensed by the state. Walter Remmert, who oversees the office issuing the licenses, says he will review a report from the Ohio incident.

“If it was a structural deficit, if it was manufactured poorly if it was maintained poorly. Whatever the result is from the Ohio investigation we are going to learn from it we are going to be proactive about it and we’re going to apply it as broadly as we can.”

Remmert says 10,000 amusement rides a year are inspected in Pennsylvania.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.