"Excessive corrosion" is to blame in the deadly Ohio State Fair accident, an investigation by the ride manufacturer showed.
The Fire Ball ride fell apart July 26 with riders onboard, hurtling several of them through the air to land on the ground and releasing debris that wounded others. One person was killed and seven others were jurt. The ride spins 40 feet above the ground while the entire structure moves like a pendulum through the air.
The ride, which was 18 years old, was reportedly inspected several times before and during the fair.
"It's been looked at about three or four times over the course of two days," chief ride inspector Michael Vartorella said in July, CNN reported.
Albert Kroon, the product manager for KMG, which makes the ride, said KMG is collaborating with other safety experts in the industry to create a better safety and inspection protocol that will keep other accidents like this from occurring, CNN reported.
Tyler Jarrell, 18, was killed in the state fair accident. Jarrell had recently enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps and was supposed to attend basic training next year. His family expects to sue the fair for wrongful death over the incident, CBS News reported.
Jarrell’s girlfriend Keziah Lewis also was on the ride, The Washington Post reported. She suffered multiple fractures and has had several surgeries so far.
An estimated 30,900 injuries have occurred on or around amusement attractions, according to emergency department records, CNN reported. Twenty-two deaths have been associated with riding amusement attractions since 2010, press secretary for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Patty Davis said.
Twitter users were skeptical about the inspection process.
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