Ferris wheel ejection injures two girls at Harvest Festival

Two girls under 13 were injured and taken to hospitals after they were ejected from a Ferris wheel at the Harvest Festival in New Roads, Louisiana, on Saturday, Nov. 1, Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Rene Thibodeaux said. One of the children was airlifted to a hospital in Baton Rouge, about 35 miles southwest of New Roads, officials said.

Thibodeaux said the state Office of the Fire Marshal has opened an investigation into the incident. Festival organizers closed all rides for inspection pending the outcome of the inquiry, and the Ferris wheel and a nearby slide remained shut down while investigators examine the attraction, officials said. Authorities have not released further details about the girls' medical conditions.

Witnesses described seeing a Ferris wheel bucket tip and spill riders. Festivalgoer Madison Fields said she heard a loud sound and saw one of the girls fall. "It was two girls, and one of the girls fell on her face, and she was really damaged," she said. Another attendee, Eddie Jones, said he had just bought tickets when he heard a scream and saw the two children on the steel platform below the ride. "I looked over, and the Ferris wheel car was kicked over. I...