The first day of the Ohio State Fair had visitors smiling faces turn into the look of terror within seconds as they watched a ride break apart right before their eyes.
According to WCPO, the "Fire Ball" ride cracked while riders were on it throwing their bodies at least 20-30 feet into the air as they were ejected from the ride as it was swinging and spinning around. Terrified witnesses watched as the riders slammed to the concrete ground.
Dr. David Evans of OSU Medical Center explained "multiple passengers were ejected at high speed" then "crashed at a significant distance from the ride."
ABC News reports 18-year-old Columbus, Ohio, resident Tyler Jarrell, lost his life when he was flung into the air while malfunctioning ride fell apart. …show more content…
Three victims of the tragedy were listed in critical condition.
Jarrell died just days after photos were shared on Facebook celebrating his enlistment into the marines, according to the Daily Mail.
ABC6 reports surviving 16-year-old passenger, Devray Williams felt the ride shaking before "The Fireball" snapped as she watched other riders screaming and flying through the air around her:
"One of them just came off, all the way off. Everybody just started getting stuck in it, they couldn't move. I just remember this little girl screaming for her mom."
She was taken to the hospital later that night when she had an anxiety attack.
Teenager Britney Neal was waiting with her sister to get on the ride when the chaos began, watching three people slam to the ground making a "face before death." Neal told ABC News:
"They knew they were hitting the ground. They knew they were going to die. Every time I close my eyes I can see the image."
Her sister Kiley
According to WCPO, the "Fire Ball" ride cracked while riders were on it throwing their bodies at least 20-30 feet into the air as they were ejected from the ride as it was swinging and spinning around. Terrified witnesses watched as the riders slammed to the concrete ground.
Dr. David Evans of OSU Medical Center explained "multiple passengers were ejected at high speed" then "crashed at a significant distance from the ride."
ABC News reports 18-year-old Columbus, Ohio, resident Tyler Jarrell, lost his life when he was flung into the air while malfunctioning ride fell apart. …show more content…
Three victims of the tragedy were listed in critical condition.
Jarrell died just days after photos were shared on Facebook celebrating his enlistment into the marines, according to the Daily Mail.
ABC6 reports surviving 16-year-old passenger, Devray Williams felt the ride shaking before "The Fireball" snapped as she watched other riders screaming and flying through the air around her:
"One of them just came off, all the way off. Everybody just started getting stuck in it, they couldn't move. I just remember this little girl screaming for her mom."
She was taken to the hospital later that night when she had an anxiety attack.
Teenager Britney Neal was waiting with her sister to get on the ride when the chaos began, watching three people slam to the ground making a "face before death." Neal told ABC News:
"They knew they were hitting the ground. They knew they were going to die. Every time I close my eyes I can see the image."
Her sister Kiley