New lawsuit: State fair ride victims still searching for justice

It’s been nearly two years since the deadly ride accident at the Ohio State fair. But was it an accident that could’ve been prevented? According to a lawsuit filed by the victims and their families, yes.

Eighteen-year-old Tyler Jarrell, who died in the accident, along with three more victims jointly filed a lawsuit against KMG International, the maker of the Fire Ball ride, reports 10TV. The three victims include Keziah Lewis, who was dating Jarrell at the time of the accident, Tamica Dunlap, and Russell Franks.

Following the ride malfunction, Lewis was unresponsive at Grant Medical Center, Dunlap was in serious condition at Wexner Medical Center, and Franks was in critical condition.

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In total, the malfunction caused one death and seven serious injuries. It was determined that corrosion weakened the arm of the gondola that snapped off mid-swing, reports 10TV.

“This suit alleges among other things that KMG International designed a defective product, the Fire Ball ride,” said Dunlap’s attorney Michael Rourke, per 10TV. “It further alleges that KMG learned of that defect as early as January 2012, and fraudulently and intentionally concealed that information, and did not divulge it to the public, to ride owners, ride operators, or most importantly to the riding public.”

Jarrell’s mother’s reasoning for pursing the suit is simple: to prevent incidents like the one that killed her son from happening again. She is also pushing for changes to thrill ride standards in Ohio—legislation that is known as “Tyler’s Law,” which will reappear before lawmakers today, reports 10TV.

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