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Faulty ride under investigation after six injured in accident
Posted: 10.12.2011 at 9:41 PM
Updated: 10.13.2011 at 8:20 PM
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Six people are recovering after an accident at the South Carolina State Fair Wednesday evening.
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COLUMBIA (WACH) -- Six people left the South Carolina State fair with minor injuries Wednesday night, after a piece of metal broke off a ride called the Banzai.

The accident happened shortly after 8 p.m.

The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation is now trying to figure out what went wrong.

“They have been going over the ride, looking at everything,” said fair general manager Gary Goodman.

The Banzai has been closed since the accident.  According to Goodman, a foot pedal came loose from one of the seats and as the ride rotated around, parts of the pedal hit riders when it struck the platform.

“Hopefully, when the inspectors can issue their report, they will be able to give us an idea of what happened,” Goodman says.

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News of the accident quickly spread as fair-goers learned they could ride everything but the Banzai.

“We did a little research on it,” says Patrick Peters of Sumter.  “It didn't seem like it was that big of an issue.”

“You are hoping that they put together the rides correctly and that the maintenance is good,” adds Marlene Gardham of Columbia

Inspectors routinely check the rides from the time the parts arrive at the fair grounds to when the rides are assembled.

Last year, a traveling fair worker setting up for the state fair died from electrocution.  The power was left on for the ride he was working on at the time.

A North American Midway employee was also killed in Columbia in 2008 when he was hit by a ride.

Goodman says the LLR also comes back twice during the fair to ensure all the equipment is working properly.  He expects the department to release their findings in the coming days.

For now, the Banzai remains closed and won't re-open until it’s safe to ride.

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