A mechanical error remains under investigation after five people were injured on a ride at Waldameer Park & Water World.
At around 7 p.m. Saturday, riders on the Flying Swings were brought to a halt, but the ride did not come to a complete stop.
Waldameer President Steve Gorman said the ride malfunction caused at least five people to suffer injuries.
“To my knowledge there were five people who were injured with foot or leg injuries,” Gorman said. “Everyone except one person was able to walk.”
Millcreek Police and Millcreek Fire Department were called to the scene. Neither had an official count on the number of people injured.
Millcreek Police Chief Carter Mook told the Times-News that two ambulances were sent to Waldameer, and each transported one person to UPMC Hamot.
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How were riders injured on Waldameer’s Flying Swings?
Gorman said the ride operator told him and other officials from Waldameer and Millcreek police that the ride was stopped because of a rider crying that they did not want to ride anymore.
When the ride stopped and was lowered, the attraction was still swinging outward as if it were suspended in the air.
“People were swinging out further than they should be when the ride lowered and many of them had their feet hit obstacles on the way down,” Gorman said.
What’s next for Waldameer following this incident?
The ride was inspected Sunday by a quality assurance rides inspector from the Amusement Ride Safety Division of the Department of Agriculture. The findings will be brought before division supervisors.
“From there they will give us their conclusions on what should be done to permit us to open the ride again,” Gorman said.
The swings have been closed temporarily until state inspectors approve a plan to reopen the attraction safely. Gorman did not give a specific timeframe as to when the ride might reopen. The park is scheduled to close for the season after Sept. 2.
Ride safety remains a priority
Gorman told the Times-News that this situation is unusual and that the park prides itself on its safety track record.
“We have a very good safety record,” Gorman said. “Our insurance recognizes it, the state recognizes it, the state inspectors recognize it. We get applauded from both of those outside parties on our record. We do a good job with maintenance and outside training and so we feel pretty good about how we operate our park.”
Gorman added that the safety of guests is a top priority.
“We feel distressed, I’m stressed when someone gets injured at our park so we take it to heart,” Gorman said. “Safety is our top priority. We would not operate our rides if we didn’t feel they were safe.”
Contact Nicholas Sorensen at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Five injured on an amusement park ride at Waldameer Park in Erie PA
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