Children's Ride Overturns At Russian Fair, Seriously Injuring 3

[News_Editor]

BELOGORSK, RUSSIA (BNO NEWS) -- Three people were seriously injured on Saturday when a part of a children's amusement ride overturned at a fair in Russia's Far East, local officials said on Sunday, adding that both technical malfunction and sabotage are being investigated as a possible cause.

The incident happened at approximately 12:45 p.m. local time on Saturday at a fair in a park in Belogorsk, a town in Amur Oblast. It involved a Caterpillar Ride in which a mini-train with six carriages travels approximately 130 meters (140 yards) and makes its way through a large 'apple.'

A spokesperson for Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations said two of the six fully loaded carriages derailed and overturned as it made its way back to the station, causing three people to fall from a height of about three meters (9.8 feet). The ride was carrying about 24 people, many of them believed to be children.

Authorities said a 10-year-old girl suffered a diaphragmatic rupture, a traumatic brain injury and broke several ribs. Two other people, identified as a 62-year-old woman and a 33-year-old woman, suffered a variety of serious injuries, including one of them who suffered multiple fractures of the lower jaw and head trauma.

Stanislav Melyukov, the town's top official, said authorities were considering both technical malfunction and sabotage as possible causes of the accident. "We regret that the attraction we bought was the cause of this accident," he said. "All the victims will be compensated at the rate of not less than 100,000 rubles ($3,124). Depending on the severity, it can be up to 300,000 rubles ($9,372)."

While the cause of Saturday's accident remains unknown, Russia's Investigative Committee said it launched a criminal investigation to determine whether the ride did not meet safety requirements or whether criminal negligence resulted in bodily harm. Melyukov said the ride had been installed on May 24 and had passed a safety test.

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