Posted on 05/16/2008 10:12:54 PM PDT by Drago
ANGELS CAMP, Calif. -- A carnival ride collapsed Friday evening at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds, injuring 18 people.
A swing ride called the Yo-Yo collapsed just after 6 p.m., Cal Fire's Lisa Williams said.
According to witnesses, 25 people were on the ride at the time.
The Yo-Yo has arms that fling out as they spin around an axis, said Dennis Townsend, a chief in the Calaveras County unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention.
(Excerpt) Read more at kcra.com ...
The carnival operator is "Midway of Fun" out of Oroville, CA.
http://www.midwayoffun.com/itinerary.htm
Additional news link: http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=42079
Q4. Are you totally covered for any liability?
Yes definitely! MIDWAY OF FUN, INC. carries liability insurance. Your organization as well as the property owners will be added on as additional insureds to our policy for the dates we are on the lot. A copy of the Certificate of Insurance along with other pertinent licenses and/or permits will be sent to you.
The families will see how true this is.
I’d never let one of my kids on one of those carnival rides. The last few carnivals I took my kids to, most of the rides were operated by Latino workers who didn’t speak a word of English, and some smelled of alcohol.
Looks like the yellow horizontal arms collapsed into the travel position while the ride was running. The still photos on the “News 10” site show this:
http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=42079
Calaveras County Fair website:
http://www.frogtown.org/jubilee_home.shtml
My parents, brother & sister-in-law and 2 nephews are going to the fair tomorrow...they won’t be riding the rides!!
I was on the Jumping Frog Jubilee “Junior Fair Board” during my junior year in HS...waaay back in 1977.
Prayers for those injured. How scary...
I remember seeing a report on these carnival rides 25 years ago. My brother and I named it “scary circus” and I have never been on them. My kids want to go on rides, jump in the car for and hour and go to disneyland. Cleaner and safer.
my kids and i have been on this ride at Paramount's Great America... i would never go on it a carnival or fair... when i am on it, i do think about what would happen if...
Don’t you just know this is gonna lead to calls for more government regulation.
I don’t trust those rides. I’ve known carnies. Just imagine Hollywood actors without the fame.
The Calaveras County Fair was a favorite of my kids when they were growing up. We’d leave the Bay Area at 5 in the morning to get to the firefighter pancake breakfast, jump frogs, watch the rodeo and enjoy the rides — including this one. It’s a fun event. I sure hope everybody is ok.
On a semi-related note, KOVR 13, Sacramento, reported on the 10 pm news that two carnival workers were arrested at the same site. Both were sexual offenders failing to register.
Talk about Guardian Angels working overtime.
this is so frightening as a parent, especially since this particular ride is one of my childrens’ favorites..
I am sorry for this thing, but shiite happens. It does give us someth9ing to call "news". It was caused by mechanical failure. It can happen with anything made by man. If it was made by God, we call them NATURAL disasters (see China!). Keep the chairs warm, or go enjoy living! You can wring your hands later!
Yes, Midway winters here in Oroville, my home base. I remember some of the carnies from Midway years ago. Quite a interesting lot. As for Mexicans working the fair. Lots of operators go down to Mexico and secure working visas for them. While not an apologist for the carnival operators, the mexicans are trained in their respective jobs and work hard. They are preferred over the Anglo carnies because they can pass the drug tests. Mostly they kick back with a Tecate after hours..
I have been in the business for many years as an independent vendor on the midway.
We just completed a gig in Carson City, Mac Chris, the owner of Inland Empire Carnival told me that it cost him 11K in fuel costs alone to jump from Las Vegas to Carson City--plus another 9K for driver costs. 20 grand for a 450 mile jump... It cost us $800 to jump from Kingman, AZ to Carson City.
It sounds like from cursory reports that something was either not connected properly, or a metal malfunction. The Yo-Yo is a popular ride originating in Germany.
As for carnival workers being picked up as one time child molestors, it happens. Perverts on both ends ply the fairs, whether they are members of the crowd, or even carnival workers. Imagine any large crew, with workers drifting in and out and folks being hired in town to help set up, tear down, etc.. there will be folks that have dubious pasts that get hired on. Its been well known that a lot of ex-cons would work the fairs, after-all, where else can they get a job?
I will try and can some more info regarding the accident in Angels Camp and pass it along here.
Thanks for the additional info.! Yeah, the diesel prices gotta be hurting the midway operators. Local news here (Fresno) interviewed the operator at the Porterville Fair (Butler Amusements) and he indicated that they just have to “eat” the extra fuel costs since they are under contract months in advance. Diesel is used for generators to run the rides as well as for the trucks to move them to the new fair/site.
What do you sell? Kettlecorn? Souvenirs?
We have two different operations. My wife and I run Big Kahuna Incense. We sell incense, oils, tye dye and jewelry and rock and roll crap. Our other business is America’s Smallest Travelling Museum featuring unique specimens for public viewing. This year we are featuring Zack and Mack, America’s favorite two-headed wonder. The boys can be here on you tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ziBb1M8EyI
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