Tenn. fair officials apologize for downplaying injuries after ride mishap
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Officials at fair in Memphis where eight riders were hurt say they were told initially by first responders that there were no visible injuries.
Fair officials didn’t learn the extent of the injuries until the riders were taken to a hospital, they said. In a statement Sunday, officials apologized for originally downplaying the injuries. Among them were a fractured leg, wrist and collarbone.
“Our apologies and condolences go out to the individuals on the ride involved, and also to everyone that was under the impression that we were trying to mislead you,” the statement said. “In no way were our intentions to mislead or lie to anyone and certainly do not want to come across that way.”
The injuries happened Saturday on the Moonraker, which spins around an axis and tilts up and down on an angle. Fair safety director Matt Snyder said the ride’s computer detected a problem and immediately began safety shutdown. As the ride stopped spinning and began to descend, the operator panicked and pressed a manual override button that released lap bar safety restraints.
Some riders fell into the metal bars or slid out of their seats. No one fell off the ride, which has been shut down, but could soon reopen.
Head of the Delta Fair Mark Lovell told CBS affiliate WREG that a third party inspector and Shelby County Code Enforcement examined the ride several times since Saturday.
Belle City Amusements, a company out of Florida who owns the Moonraker, told WREG that they have upgraded the ride’s software. They also told WREG that the feature that allowed the operator to open restraints during the ride has been removed.
The company has submitted the required forms to the Department of Labor and Workforce showing improvements have been made.
“She’s got the paperwork. She’s reviewing it. She’s supposed to give us the green light today to turn the ride back on,” said Lovell.
Some riders we talked to said they would still to get on the ride despite the mishap.
“Things are bound to happen. It’s not all going to be safe 100%. You know? People make mistakes. Machines make mistakes,” said Caleb Johnson to WREG.