County fair drops Adrenaline Drop

Deepa Bharath

A thrill ride that left one woman on crutches will hobble away from

this year’s fair.

Officials announced on Thursday that the Adrenaline Drop will pack

up and leave the fairgrounds after they and the ride operator decided

that they cannot fulfill several mandates the state Department of

Occupational Safety and Health requires before the fair ends.

The Adrenaline Drop, still conspicuous with its tall, bright

orange tower, was closed barely two days after the fair began when

30-year-old Aidyl Sofia-Gonzalez of La Canada plunged to a 110-foot

freefall untethered by bungee cords or harnesses and hit a 5-inch

foam mat on the ground. The ride’s nets somehow didn’t break her

fall.

The extent of her injuries was not known, but she is said to have

left the hospital on crutches.

State officials who have been investigating the July 13 incident

issued a preliminary order on Thursday listing seven separate

requirements or changes that the operator must make for the ride to

resume safe operation.

The conditions included installing a switch and locking device for

the hatch door from where the rider is released. The state also

requires the ride operator to make changes in the manual, some

procedures and training.

The changes “cannot be made in a timely manner,” said Becky

Bailey-Findley, the fair’s chief executive.

“We won’t be replacing this ride,” she said Thursday. “We may move

a few things around, maybe provide some table and chairs for people

to sit down and relax.”

The Adrenaline Jump will likely be dismantled on Monday, the

fair’s day off, Bailey-Findley said.

She said that the fair will not lose much because of the ride’s

departure. Last year, the fair made about 1% of its total ride

revenue came from the Adrenaline Drop, Bailey-Findley said.

She said the ride operator believes that making the changes at the

fairgrounds would be impractical and disrupt the event.

“He may have to work limited time or after hours,” Bailey-Findley

said.

She said it is premature to say whether the ride will return to

the fair next year, but said fair officials have received a few calls

from people saying they already miss it.

“We’ll need to review the changes and see what their experience

and effectiveness is,” Bailey-Findley said. “It’s too early to tell.”

The conditions listed by the state are quite elaborate and could

take some time to execute, said Dean Fryer, spokesman for Cal/OSHA.

“Our conditions do call for changes in everything from manuals and

operation to training procedures,” he said. “I would imagine that

will take some time. Also, the changes must be approved from the

manufacturer, who is in Germany.”

This is, however, only a preliminary order. A final report

detailing what exactly went wrong with the ride is on its way, Fryer

said.

State officials are also investigating the Booster ride after

23-year-old Staci Tomack suffered an injury when a pin from a sign

came loose, fell on her face and reportedly gave her several cuts.

That also happened on July 13, hours after the Adrenaline Drop

incident. Tomack’s mother said her daughter had to undergo surgery

because of the injuries, but the ride operator reported only a cut.

The Booster was checked and reopened to the public, but Fryer said

they are still investigating how and why the incident occurred.

Fairgoer Teresa Brownlee of Costa Mesa said she is glad to see the

Adrenaline Drop closed.

“If they’re fixing it, they should take the time to do it,” she

said. “If it’s unsafe, it doesn’t belong here.”

Bailey-Findley said the two incidents have motivated fair

officials to be “extra vigilant.”

“We don’t anticipate making any changes in the way we do things,”

she said. “We’re just going to try and be extra careful and not leave

anything to chance.”

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.