State Fair Carnival Ride Shut Down

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Lincoln, Neb.
Posted: 8:51 AM Aug 27, 2008
Last Updated: 9:19 AM Aug 27, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: desk@kolnkgin.com

19 comments

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Shock problems have shut down a carnival ride at the Nebraska State Fair in Lincoln.

Management of the Mighty Bluegrass Shows have turned off its Ring of Fire for the rest of fair after riders complained about being shocked on Saturday and again on Monday.

J.J. Murphy of the Florida-based midway operation says there was a short in the lights.

Deb Collins of the Nebraska State Patrol said troopers investigated the ride and will file a report any possible law violations to the Lancaster County attorney's office.

The fair's executive director, Barney Cosner, said the problem with the ride was sporadic, but investigators were able to trace it to a lighting ring.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: lincoln on Aug 29, 2008 at 02:59 PM
Yes, thank goodness his father was there to pull him off!!

Posted by: Mom too Location: Lincoln on Aug 29, 2008 at 01:42 PM
I am reconsidering allowing my girls to go to the midway. This is not a minor thing, his parents are not over reacting!! I am so thankful the boy was not hurt worse. How very scary for everyone (except the carny evidently who didn't care at all). Thanks to the quick reations of his loving parents! I will pray for his complete recovery, both physical and emotional.

Posted by: s Location: lincoln on Aug 29, 2008 at 01:36 PM
Are you kidding me? Some of you are really making this out to look like it was NO big deal? I can't wait til GI takes this problem away from here!

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Lincoln on Aug 28, 2008 at 04:29 PM
Not hiring an attorney because you called and found there was no money in it!

Posted by: KC Location: Lincoln on Aug 28, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Thank you for the other understanding parents thoughts. Yes, Don, I meant shock. This is being investigated, I am not hiring an attorney as I am just so thankful my son is fine and will have no lasting effects. Hopefully the investigation will find what is needed and the Blue Grass Show will be fined accordingly.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 28, 2008 at 09:12 AM
Thank you Don!

Posted by: cautious Location: Aurora on Aug 27, 2008 at 11:54 PM
Ok, as a mother of two girls i would probably react the same way in this situation. I agree that if ppl were being shocked on the ride, why wasn't it shut down immediately by the management? Common sense? It should of been shut down as the child was being treated for the injuries. I hope the little boy and whoever was shocked on this ride is ok and also even if the state fair was @ Grand Island, it could of happen there too. Hope that this doesn't happen again..

Posted by: omg Location: Lincoln on Aug 27, 2008 at 07:04 PM
For those of you who don't understand the heart monitoring. It was to make sure that he was in a normal rhythm. Since the heart works using "electrical currents" for lack of better wording, the shock this child endured could have reset his heart into a deadly rhythm therefore the monitoring is necessary. All I know is I hope you have a good atty you can call.

Posted by: Lisa Location: Seward on Aug 27, 2008 at 05:28 PM
OMG - all of you who say "over-reacting" don't have a child and don't really care about anyone, but if it was you, would be screaming for sympathy. KC, I am soooooo sorry for what your child went through, what an ordeal to deal with. You are in my thoughts and prayers, and Shame on the Carny Company :-(

Posted by: don Location: lincoln on Aug 27, 2008 at 04:36 PM
if the child is alive he was shocked, not electrocuted. There is no coming back from electrocution, it results in death. A common mistake.

Posted by: me Location: Lincoln on Aug 27, 2008 at 03:04 PM
I tell you what...when it's your child be electrocuted by a carnival ride/attraction. Then your have the right to say 'your over reacting'. Until then....stuff it.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Lincoln on Aug 27, 2008 at 02:25 PM
Yep, just one more reason not to visit traveling carnivals. And one more reason I say let GI have the fair.

Posted by: KC Location: Lincoln on Aug 27, 2008 at 02:12 PM
I am not over reacting. I care about my children. I don't think that is a bad thing. The point that he wet himself and had to be pulled off the electric current by his father should give you some indication of how strong of a "shock" we are talking about. As a caring parent, we should take these accidents seriously. If a smaller child had this happen, it could have killed them. Or if my son hadn't been helped right away, God forbid, the outcome could have been much worse. I think that Blue Grass Shows should have shut the ride down when the first person got shocked. They should be held accountable for their actions.

Posted by: PLG Location: Lincoln on Aug 27, 2008 at 01:16 PM
RE: Post to KC - I was there when her son was electricuted and he was in fact hooked up to have his heart monitored. She is in no way over reacting. It takes a lot of electricity to be locked on and unable to let go. This incident was that bad and the ride should have been shut down right then and there to be inspected and it wasnt! Blue Grass did nothing at the time and had the the ride going even before the paramedicas had finished treating her son. In fact he was still hooked up to the heart monitor when the ride started up. Its obvious now that the problem was not resolved if people were continuing to get shocked after Saturday.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 27, 2008 at 01:07 PM
the ride was shut down on monday, the boy's heart was monitored before that. Learn to read.

Posted by: To KC on Aug 27, 2008 at 11:47 AM
You sound like an over-reactive mother. I doubt he "had" to have his heart monitored. If no action was taken until monday, it couldn't have been that mad.

Posted by: joey on Aug 27, 2008 at 11:44 AM
thats why i don't ride rides from traveling carnivals. just go to worlds of fun or somewhere they actually care about safety. plus carnies smell like cabbage.

Posted by: PLG Location: Lincoln on Aug 27, 2008 at 10:29 AM
These shocks were more serious than "a source of discomfort" to quote a Blue Grass Manager from the Journal Star. A ten year boy was shocked so badly that he was locked onto the rails. Had his father not been there to pull him off who knows how serious this could have beeen. The ride operator had to be told several times what happened before he would get security and paramedics. And sure enough, before the paramedics had finished treating the boy the ride started back up again. Not what I would call making the safety of the people a number one priority.

Posted by: KC Location: Lincoln on Aug 27, 2008 at 09:51 AM
They weren't just little shocks, my son got electricuted and had to have his heart monitored after the incident. It was a major ordeal for him and they didn't shut the ride down until Monday. My son got electricuted Saturday night. Luckily his dad was there and pulled him away from the current. I would have hated to know what would have happened if he had been "shocked" for any longer of a period of time. The carny was irritated with my sons father and they didn't really take it seriously. Very scary!! Be careful!

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