Ohio State Fair Ride Collapse: Victims Identified

COLUMBUS, OH — When the Fire Ball broke apart on the first day of the Ohio State Fair, it claimed the life of Columbus native Tyler Jarrell, 18, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said on Thursday. The collapse of the ride also injured seven people.

The ride was operated by Amusements of America and was reportedly one of the most popular rides at the Ohio State Fair midway. The ride was repeatedly checked and cleared for safety, Director of Agriculture David Daniels said on Wednesday night.

Eleven rides were not cleared to open on the first day of the Ohio State Fair, Daniels told the Associated Press. However, the Fire Ball was not one of those rides and had been cleared for use.

Watch: At Least 1 Dead After Ohio State Fair Ride Breaks Apart Midair

When the ride did break down Wednesday, it began swinging like a pendulum before striking an object and hurling riders to the ground. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Among those injured and taken to local hospitals were:

• Tamika Dunlap, 36, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio
• Russell Franks, 42, of Columbus, Ohio
• Keziah Lewis, 19, of Columbus, Ohio
• Jacob Andrews, 22, of Pataskala, Ohio
• Jennifer Lambert, 18, of Columbus, Ohio
• Abdihakim Hussein, 19, of Columbus, Ohio
• A 14 year-old male whose name is being withheld at the request of the family

As of Wednesday night, three of the above victims were in critical condition. A spokesperson for the Ohio State Highway Patrol said no update on their status was immediately available.

After Gov. John Kasich ordered all rides at the fair shut down for further inspection, the Ohio State Fair finally released a statement on Twitter saying, "Our heart's are heavy for the families of those involved in last night's tragic accident."

Gates for the fair opened at 9 a.m. on Thursday, and other activities resumed as scheduled.

The Ohio State Patrol is continuing to investigate the incident and is asking that any witnesses contact the Patrol at (614) 799-6633.

More information on the collapse of the Fire Ball can be found here.

Photo credit: Jim Woods/The Columbus Dispatch via AP