NJ Amusement Rides Getting Worse? 2 Accidents In One Week

NEW JERSEY – Two accidents at New Jersey amusement attractions have happened in one week – and it may be part of a growing trend of incidents leading to serious injuries in the state.

And those incidents have gotten deadly.

The number of serious injuries rose sharply from 6 to 76 in 2018 – a dramatic increase reported by the state Department of Community Affairs just as New Jersey remains shaken following the Oct. 12 death of a 10-year-old girl on a festival amusement ride.

The DCA ordered a shutdown of rides similar to the one where the tragedy took place. Read more: NJ Orders Ride Shutdown As 911 Calls Released After Girl's Death

A ride at Storybook Land Amusement Park in South Jersey was also closed Friday after a passenger was hurt on the attraction, according to police. Read more: Another NJ Ride Incident At Amusement Park: Storybook Land

State officials did say that the increase was a result of a change in reporting that requires all accidents involving a medical technician to be labeled "serious." Before 2018, any incident that required more attention than first aid – such as a broken leg – was reported as serious, officials said.

But that isn't the only statistic that was cause for concern.

The number of shutdowns in 2018 also tripled from the previous year, to 75, the highest number in a decade. The number of incidents also rose from 118 to 146, the largest tally since 2010.

State officials say they've taken steps in recent years to improve the safety of amusement rides that had a much higher number of incidents 20 years ago.

DCA spokeswoman Tammori Petty said her department inspects all amusement park and carnival rides prior to the start of the ride season. The inspection includes a "thorough mechanical and electrical examination," she said.

The department also makes sure each ride passes an annual "non-destructive test," which are examinations using specialized equipment that can show flaws or damage to parts that may not be visible to the naked eye.

The DCA also conducts a review of the ride maintenance logs and checklists, and also confirms that operator and maintenance technicians all have valid training certifications.

Some numbers, as a result, are dramatically lower than they were in 2000 when there were more than 1,400 incidents reported and lower inspection standards.

Here are the statistics for the past 20 years:

The Storybook Land Amusement Park incident happened at approximately 12:08 p.m. Friday when Egg Harbor Township Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to assist a guest, police said.

The guest was involved in an incident while riding the "Out on a Limb" swing ride that resulted in the need for medical attention, police said.

The ride has been closed pending inspection by the state Department of Community Affairs and the incident is under investigation.

On Oct. 12, Hailey McMullen was killed after she was thrown from one ride called "Xtreme" at the Deerfield Harvest Festival. The horrifying moments after the 10-year-old girl's fatal fall were captured in 911 calls released last week week.