Three Children Fell From An Overturned Ferris Wheel Basket And Are Hospitalized In Tennessee

On Monday night, three girls were rushed to the hospital in eastern Tennessee after falling at least 35 feet when their basket overturned as it was nearing the top of a Ferris wheel at the Greene County Fair. According to early reports, all three were alert and able to communicate with hospital staff, but as of this morning, WJHL-TV in eastern Tennessee reported that Greeneville Police Capt. Tim Davis can only confirm that two of the children are alert, while the third has suffered a head injury and was intubated last night in the intensive care unit:

“I was given updated information this morning,” Davis said. “Two of the children were alert and answering questions. I can’t tell you whether the third was or not. The third child … does have a head injury and was intubated last night and is still in the hospital. As far as I know all three kids are still in the hospital.”

Another local news source, ABC affiliate WATE, reported that the oldest is 16, and two of the injured are sisters. An eyewitness at the fair, Gregory Lynthacum, said the car the girls were riding in appeared to “get caught” as the wheel lifted upward. “It was like watching water pouring from a glass,” Lynthacum told reporters. “They bounced off the metal bridging of the ride and eventually hit the ground.”

Here’s a scary photo of the overturned basket after the ride was shut down.

Operational rides have been suspended pending investigation at the fair, but concessions and other attractions remain open until Aug. 13.

This is not the first tragedy this week that’s struck at a place where children seek adrenaline rushes and amusement: Over the weekend, 10-year-old Caleb Schwab, the son of a Kansas state senator, was killed while riding the world’s tallest water slide at the Schlitterbahn Kansas City Water Park.

(Via CNN, WATE, and WJHL-TV )