'Oh My God, They're Falling': Terrifying Ferris Wheel Ride

Two siblings fell at least 15 feet in a Ferris wheel accident at the Chelsea Community Fair Thursday. It’s unclear what caused the ride to “dump them out,” but it reopened Friday after state inspectors said it was safe. (Screenshot: WDIV, Channel 7, video)

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A Ferris wheel ride at a community fair had a terrifying end Thursday night for Natasha McElrath, 16, and her 8-year-old brother, who fell 15 feet to the ground after the cab they were seated in opened and “just dumped them out,” a witness said.

The two are expected to recover, but were initially listed in critical condition when first transported to a nearby hospital after the accident at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday on the midway of the Chelsea Community Fair, the Detroit Free Press reports.

The boy has since been released, but his sister remains hospitalization for observation. The nature of their injuries is unknown.

“I was in shock. I saw it happening. It was very, very traumatic.” – Alex Keszler, witness

Witness Alex Keszler of Chelsea told MLive/The Ann Arbor News that she was standing near the ride when she saw the cab the siblings were riding got tangled with one another. The cab was stationed at about 4 o’clock on the wheel when it tipped forward enough to cause the gate to open and “dump” the occupants.

“I was in shock. I saw it happening. It was very, very traumatic,” Keszler said. “I just hope those kids are OK.”

Katie Wyss of Chelsea and her family narrowly missed being on the Ferris wheel at the time. Wyss, her husband and two children were on their way to the ride when she heard a loud bang, then heard someone say, “Oh my God, they’re falling.”

Officials also don’t know what caused the amusement ride to malfunction. Rick Boham, the fair board president, told MLive/The Ann Arbor News the Ferris wheel and other carnival rides were inspected and certified as safe before the four-day Chelsea fair, a community tradition for 77 years that continues through Saturday.

The siblings’ mother told WXYZ, Channel 7 that the cab lacked interior safety restraints that might have prevented her children from falling.