WA amusement ride topples; 2 sent to hospital

An amusement ride for young children toppled over Friday evening at the Puyallup Spring Fair, and officials said two people were sent to a hospital.

Another 10-12 people, mostly children, were attended to by medics at the fairgrounds, said fair spokeswoman Karen LaFlamme. LaFlamme said one of those taken to the hospital had a possible leg injury.

Good Samaritan Hospital spokeswoman Jennifer Aalgaard (all'-guard) said one child and one adult were being evaluated Friday night in the emergency room. She said she could not discuss any possible injuries.

The Lolli Swing ride in Kiddyland, the children's section of the fair, toppled at about 6:40 p.m. Friday. The ride has swing-type seats that rotate around a central pillar, and has operated at the fair for the past five years.

There was no immediate word on the cause of the accident, although officials told KOMO Radio that they were looking at the possibility that soggy ground under the ride may have simply given way. Officials said the ride was inspected on Wednesday.

Witness Shelly Cummings told KING-TV that her son was aboard the ride when it fell over but was OK. In her words, "It just all of a sudden toppled over."

Puyallup is in Pierce County, east of Tacoma.