GREENE COUNTY, TN (WJHL)- The public is getting its first close look at the gondola involved in a Ferris wheel incident in Greene County that seriously injured three girls over the summer. In August, a malfunction on the Family Attractions Amusement Ferris wheel caused the girls to fall off the ride. Ride inspectors said loose rivets on the gondola they were riding in caused the bottom skid plate to drop down, catch on the Ferris wheel’s frame and tip the riders out.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently completed an in-depth investigation report about the incident. Photos included in the report show the gap between the plate and the bottom of the basket. CPSC investigators also noted that the skid plates had never been replaced and were typically slid on the ground during assembly and disassembly, according to the ride’s owner. The report also states that the plates were not flagged for inspection in the owner’s manual or on the daily inspection list. During a re-enactment, CSPC investigators said the skid plate came into contact with the Ferris wheel’s frame.
The Ferris wheel has been sent back to the manufacturer and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development said the ride is not permitted to operate in the state of Tennessee The CSPC report also identified a fourth injured rider. A grandmother was in an adjacent gondola and said she sprained her arm and shoulder during the incident.Copyright 2016 WJHL. All rights reserved.
