Ride scare at the fair turns out...

Ride scare at the fair turns out minor

Fair officials shut down a ride for nearly four hours Sunday after

it had to be stopped abruptly by the ride operator and caused three

aboard the Orbiter to report to first aid.

All three who went to the first aid station at the fair, among 24

aboard the “lift and spin” ride, were quickly released without

injuries, fair officials said.

“Safety is our No. 1 priority,” fair spokeswoman Pam Highwart

said. “It always has been and always will be, and it continues to be

to this day.”

A metal door housing an electrical panel opened at about 3:20

p.m., and the ride operator, upon seeing the problem, stopped the

ride to ensure guest safety, fair officials said. The lift mechanism

hit the opened door panel and broke some of the ride’s light-bulb

housings.

Investigators found no mechanical malfunction and no structural

damage to the 10-year-old ride. Fair officials reopened the ride at

about 7 p.m., after another panel door was installed and an

inspection was completed.