Girl in Critical Condition After Falling From Ferris Wheel at Tennessee County Fair

GREENEVILLE, TN — A county fair in Eastern Tennessee was closed Tuesday after three girls were injured, one seriously, when they fell out of a Ferris wheel.

One of the three girls suffered a traumatic brain injury and is currently in critical condition, The Associated Press reported. The 6-year-old girl was riding the Ferris wheel with her 10-year-old sister and a 16-year-old girl, both of whom are in stable condition.

"We would like to extend our thoughts and prayers for those injured tonight at the fair. We are deeply shocked and saddened. We are not releasing names out of respect for the families involved," the Greene County Fair said on Facebook. "All rides have been shut down until further notice. Safety crews and agencies were on site and responded immediately. Please keep these families in your prayers."

Greeneville Police told reporters at a press conference that the girls fell 35-40 feet when their seat flipped over Monday night. All rides will stay closed until they are examined by third-party inspectors.

People who were trapped on the Ferris wheel had to be rescued from the ride, the Greeneville Sun reported. A witness told the paper that the girls fell from the top of the ride.

In May, a Texas girl died after an apparent malfunction on a carnival ride. The girl was riding "The Sizzler," an attraction that spins and rotates. On Sunday, a 10-year-old boy died while riding the world's tallest water slide in Kansas.

Image via Shutterstock