The same amusement company involved in a deadly fair ride accident in Ohio has been operating rides at several fairs in Tennessee for years.
Reports stated Amusements of America has also been involved with fairs in Wilson County, as well as both Memphis and Pulaski.
According to Randall Clemons, President with Wilson County Promotions, they will continue to use Amusements of America for the Wilson County Fair.
They released the following statement Thursday:
“The Wilson County Fair, Lebanon, TN is very saddened about the accident at the Ohio State Fair. Amusements of America is a carnival that has been in business since 1939 and has been our carnival since 2008. They have a strong safety and inspection program. We plan to continue to work with Amusements of America to provide the safest amusements rides possible.”
However, on Thursday afternoon, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips issued an order which prohibited "all Fireball amusement devices, manufactured by KMG, from operating within the state."
“After much consideration and thought, and with the safety of Tennesseans and visitors to our great state in mind, I have decided the Fireball amusement device should not operate here,” Commissioner Phillips explained.
The order was set to remain in effect until further notice. Similar orders were also issued in California, Indiana, and Kentucky.
“Each and every day, safety is our top priority,” Commissioner Phillips said. “I prefer to err on the side of caution in this case and eliminate the possibility of any further accidents with this particular device.”
A different carnival than the one involved in the fatal accident, identified as North American Midway Entertainment, has had a permit to operate a Fireball device at the Tennessee State Fair in Nashville; however, they were being notified by the state's Amusement Device Unit that they will not be able to bring that device in September.
An 18-year-old man died and seven others were injured when the "Fire Ball" ride, operated by Amusements of America, malfunctioned Wednesday evening at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, causing an entire row of riders to be ejected from the attraction.
Among the seven injured, three were in critical condition, according to Paul Pride of the Ohio Highway Patrol.
Multiple eyewitnesses said a row of the ride snapped off, causing several riders to plunge to the ground. A video of the accident went viral on several social networking platforms. It showed a gondola snapping off of the ride.
Read More:
18-year-old killed on Ohio State Fair ride was a Marine recruit
Riders ejected from attraction at state fair in Ohio, 1 killed
