O.C. Fair’s G Force closed for inspection after similar ride’s deadly accident in Ohio
G Force — a thrill ride that spins and swings riders high above the midway at the Orange County Fair — is closed Thursday for inspection after a similar attraction’s deadly accident the day before in Ohio.
The OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa closed G Force on Wednesday evening after receiving word that a similar ride called Fire Ball had broken apart at the Ohio State Fair, leaving one person dead and seven injured.
The same company, KMG, manufactures both Fire Ball and G Force. The G Force ride at the Orange County Fair is owned and operated by Ray Cammack Shows.
OC Fair & Event Center spokeswoman Terry Moore said G Force was inspected Thursday morning and the fairgrounds is waiting to hear the results.
“We’re in a wait-and-see mode, but we are erring on the side of caution,” she said at about 11:30 a.m. “We’re in no rush to open that ride. We want to make sure it’s completely safe.
“We’ve had this ride for several years and never had any problems with it,” she added.
Moore said operators inspect all rides at the Orange County Fair at least once daily and that the fairgrounds also has an independent inspector check them.
KMG is investigating the cause of the malfunction in Ohio, according to the Los Angeles Times.
After the accident, the Amusement Ride and Tramway Unit of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health asked owners of Fire Ball-style attractions in the state to close the rides, pending clearance from manufacturers or state inspectors.
As of Thursday, all six had been voluntarily shut down, according to a news release.
The rides, which operate under different names, are at the California State Fair in Sacramento, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, California’s Great America in Santa Clara, San Diego’s Belmont Park and Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park.
Twitter @LukeMMoney
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UPDATES:
3:25 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information and a new photo.
This article was originally published at 1:05 p.m.
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