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Witnesses describe moment ride malfunctioned at Ohio State Fair

Witnesses describe ride accident at state fair
Posted at 2:34 PM, Jul 27, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-27 14:42:16-04

A pair of teenage sisters watched as a portion of the "Fire Ball" ride came unattached Wednesday night, sending passengers into the air at the Ohio State Fair. 

An 18-year-old man died as a result of the ride malfunction. Several others were injured.

Fire Ball: What we know about the ride that malfunctioned at the Ohio State Fair, killing one

"People were screaming," said witness Britney Neal. "Obviously family members and friends just saw people fly off. But the passengers on the ride were completely silent. This is actually one of my biggest fears. I didn't actually think I'd ever have to witness it, especially right in front of me.

"The whole row fell out — we heard them hit the ground and everything," her sister Kiley said. "We heard the emergency stop and everything. It was pretty scary."

Britney and Kiley called their mom who was yards away. She ran to meet them. 

"I feel so lucky but at the same point somebody's else's kids were on that ride," their mom told News 5. "Somebody else's babies didn't get to come home. You go to the fair and you don't ever expect that you're not going to get to come home."

 

Hear from the witnesses in the video player above.