Posted 4/05/2004 05:38:00 PM by Douglas

For some reason, I find it humorous that the name of this ride was The Gravitron.

An amusement ride broke open and ejected several passengers at a county fair, injuring seven people including a teenage girl who was in critical condition.

A piece of paneling came off "The Gravitron" while it was running late Friday, Miami-Dade police spokesman Juan DelCastillo said Saturday. The ride spins at high speed to generate centrifugal force that pins seated passengers against its interior wall.

A bolt that held the panel in place sheared, said Liz Compton, a Department of Agriculture spokeswoman.

About 40 to 45 people were on the ride when the accident happened, said Phil Clark, chief executive of the Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition.

Three of the passengers were hurled out through the opening left by the panel, DelCastillo said. There was no immediate word on how far the three people were thrown.

Why not? Ten feet, a hundred feet? Why doesn't someone know how far? Also, as horrible as this would be, you've got admit that Metal Fatigue at a Florida Carnival isn't exactly a shocking headline.