At the Greene County Fair in eastern Tennessee, three children fell out of a Ferris wheel falling 35 to 45 feet to the ground. One of the children was badly injured, and the fair has since shut down all of its rides.
The accident happened when the basket containing the three young girls turned over, dumping out the occupants.
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Captain Tim Davis of the Greeneville police said at a news conference on Tuesday that one of the children is in an intensive care unit in Johnson City, Tennessee, according to CNN. Davis explained that she has suffered a head injury, and has been intubated. The other two children were injured but are alert and responding to questions.
Ferris Wheel at the Greene Co. Fair shut down until cleared by state inspector, says Greeneville Police. pic.twitter.com/fgAOw6jvEA
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All three girls were responsive immediately after the accident, and were transported to the Johnson City Medical Center. Davis stated on Monday night that two of the girls were taken by helicopter and one by ambulance. The hospital has not given any details on their conditions as of yet.
“It was like watching water pouring from a glass,” Gregory Lynthacum told CNN affiliate WJHL-TV. “They bounced off the metal bridging of the ride and eventually hit the ground.”
The fair posted this statement on their Facebook page: “We would like to extend our thoughts and prayers for those injured tonight at the fair. We are deeply shocked and saddened. We are not releasing names out of respect for the families involved. All rides have been shut down until further notice. Safety crews and agencies were on site and responded immediately. Please keep these families in your prayers.”
This Ferris wheel accident comes on the heels of the death of a 10-year-old boy in Kansas who recently died on a water slide.
We wish the three young girls a speedy and full recovery.
