Lawsuit Filed After Two Suffer Injuries on Ferris Wheel

YORK, PA- Pennlive.com writes that a man and a woman filed a lawsuit after he dropped 25 feet from a Ferris Wheel at the York Fair last year. The victim was reportedly ejected from the gondola, causing him to plummet to the ground while a woman with him was left dangling in the air. The state investigated the incident and determined that the cause of the malfunction was mechanical.* 

The man suffered devastating injuries in the fall, including multiple fractures. The woman sustained back injuries in the ordeal. The victims were identified as a 48-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman. 

The defendants include the company that manufactured the ride as well as the inspector who approved the Ferris Wheel for operation. According to the court documents, the couple stated that the loud generator that was located just next to the ride prevented anyone from hearing riders yell that something was wrong. 

The victims stated that the bar in the ride that keeps the gondola upright as it goes around the wheel detached. The result was that the gondola flipped upside down while they attempted unsuccessfully to yell to the ride's operators. The man fell to the pavement below, suffering injuries to his head, ribs, and hands. The woman was able to grasp a metal bar to prevent herself from falling but was thrown around the inside of the gondola. 

Both of the victims required surgery as a result of their injuries. Following the accident, the Department of Agriculture investigated and found that a pin broke away from a tie rod, causing the traumatic incident. The Department did not impose any penalties. The lawsuit alleges that the hairpins used in the ride were either not installed properly or were defective. 

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Sources:

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/05/pa-man-and-woman-severely-injured-in-ferris-wheel-accident-at-york-fair-file-federal-lawsuit.html