COLUMBUS – A Columbus high school student who was killed when a thrill ride broke apart at the Ohio State Fair had just signed up with the Marines a week ago.
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An investigation into the malfunction is underway and the Ohio State Highway Patrol is asking anyone witnessed the accident or has information that could help to call 614-799-6633.
Tyler Jarrell, 18, was thrown about 50 feet and was pronounced dead on the midway and was pronounced dead at the fairgrounds. Jarrell had just enlisted with the Marines and was set to begin basic training after his high school graduation next year.
“That was just this past Friday. Then he goes to the state fair and he is involved in this horrible tragedy. It’s just devastating,” said Capt. Gerard Lennon Jr., a naval science instructor in the Junior ROTC program at Jarrell’s high school.
His girlfriend, 19-year-old Keziah Lewis, was among seven people who were badly injured when the Fire Ball flung riders through the air Wednesday evening.
Victims of the Fire Ball malfunction
Ryler Jarrell, 18, of Columbus – deceased
Tamika Dunlap, 36, of Reynoldsburg
Russell Franks, 42, of Columbus
Keziah Lewis, 19, of Columbus
Jacob Andrews, 22, of Pataskala
Jennifer Lambert, 18, of Columbus
Abdihakim Hussein, 19, of Columbus
(The name of a 14 year-old boy is being withheld at the family’s request)
-Source: Ohio State Highway Patrol
Inspection records and state officials say the Fire Ball had been checked several times and a state permit was issued on Wednesday, the fair’s opening day.
Fairs in California, New Jersey and Canada have since closed similar rides.
The ride’s Dutch manufacturer on Thursday told operators of the same attraction at fairs and festivals worldwide to stop using it until more is learned about what caused the malfunction.