Emergency crews rescue 17 trapped on malfunctioning Wis. Ferris wheel

October 04, 2010|Associated Press

RACINE, Wis. — Emergency crews used a ladder truck to rescue 17 people trapped on a Ferris wheel in Racine, officials said yesterday.

The ride was one of the attractions at Party on the Pavement in Racine, about 30 miles south of Milwaukee.

The ride fell out of alignment and got stuck about 1 p.m. Saturday. No one was hurt, but it took about two hours to stabilize the wheel before the rescues began.

Police Chief Kurt Wahlen said the amusement ride will not be moved until an inspection is done to determine why it failed.

Nicole Wagenaar, 17, told The Journal Times of Racine she cried a bit while she was stuck on the ride, but firefighters got her down safely.

In Delaware, State Police said part of a Halloween-themed carnival ride malfunctioned and flipped over on Saturday, injuring five people.

Three adults and two children had minor injuries after the accident at Frightland, a seasonal Halloween attraction in Middletown. Port Penn Fire Chief Frank Schoeffler said the five were treated at a hospital and released.

Fire officials said a section of the Merry Mixer ride came loose at about 8:45 p.m. and flipped over.

Frightland manager Deb Hall said the park has not had any serious problems with rides in its 14-year history. The rides are operated by an independent company and are inspected daily, she said.