UPDATE — Following a report by Unfiltered with Kiran, two ride operators at the Livingston Parish Fair have been issued fines.
“The State Fire Marshal’s Office was made aware of the amusement ride incident at the Livingston Parish Fair thanks to a report by Unfiltered With Kiran,” read a news release. “That awareness led to an investigation that resulted in confirmed violations of the two ride operators on site for that event. Both have been issued two $1,000 fines for failing to appropriately inform our office about their operating partnership and for failing to report the incident to our office as required.”
Officials said the operator of the Tilt-A-Whirl failed to report the below incident to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, which is required. That’s the office that oversees carnival rides and regulations. They also failed to report that the ride was set up at the Livingston Parish, something else that’s required by state allowing the agency to approve every ride for safety.
LIVINGSTON PARISH —- What started as a fun day at the Livingston Parish Fair turned into pure terror for one East Baton Rouge family after a ride malfunction.
Jaimi Medine was at the annual fair with her fiancé and their six children when the group decided to ride the Tilt-A-Whirl. It was the family’s first trip back to the fair in years, and Medine said that was mostly because she has always been afraid of theme park rides.
Once the Tilt-A-Whirl started, Medine said her fears were only compounded when she looked down and realized something wasn’t right with the ride.
“I looked down and realized the cap was not on. The piece that holds the cart on was gone. I was like ‘I don’t think we should try and spin it any faster than it already spins’,” Medine said, explaining she pulled out her phone to use the flashlight to show her fiancé that something wasn’t mechanically right.
“By the time I got my phone out of my pocket and grabbed the bar, we were already coming off.”
Medine said the entire cart was then violently disconnected, sending them spinning and out of control and crashing into the ride’s metal barrier.
“My kids thought we were dead,” Medine said. ”I don’t remember everything that happened. I don’t think I blacked out but there’s certain things I don’t remember. I know we came off. I hit my head and all the other carts kept hitting us. The next thing I remember is the fear in my 18-year-old son’s eyes when he looked at the bottom of it (turned over cart).”
Medine is back home recovering after the frightening ordeal. She said she sustained a concussion, has bruises and rashes around her body, and is experiencing whiplash but is thankful she was able to walk away from the accident mostly unscathed.
The entire subject matter was a topic discussed on Louisiana Unfiltered’s podcast.
Medine said someone who identified themselves as a representative with the fair took her information and she also contacted the owners of the ride but says she hasn’t heard back from anyone yet.
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