Teen dies after fall from Bungee Jump at Oshkosh Lifefest

**AJE** · 07-15-2007, 07:15 AM

A girl died Saturday after falling from an amusement ride at Lifest.

The girl, who was not identified, had been taken to a local hospital after the fall from a freefall swing ride around 4:45 p.m., stopping the activities on the grounds for several hours.

Music at the Christian festival had resumed around 7:30 p.m. until an announcement about the death was made from a stage just after 9:30 p.m.

http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/.../70714023/1987

pk · 07-15-2007, 08:18 AM

So awful to read stories on carnival/amusment rides.

The last few years of researching accidents totally leave me scared when my kids want to go and 'have fun' at Great America or when we stop at a carnival.

I do want to put a warning out about the huge slides where you slide down on a burlap bag. I personally know of someone of which their grandaughter recently went down and broke her back from this. She flew so fast that she actually went air borne and landed so hard she compressed her vertibre? Not sure if that is exactly what it was but she is now in a back brace for the rest of this summer. She is only 9 years old.

The family let her on this thinking it was a simple fun ride. They know different now.

The problem is, how do you know what is safe? You simply cannot. So I guess when you ride on these rides you better be a risk taker and understand you may not walk away when you are done. But the real question is, Is it worth the few seconds/minutes of the thrill?

pk

pk · 07-15-2007, 08:26 AM

The following website lists ride accidents. It is very informative and a real eye opener to see how many things can really happen.

WEBSITE: http://www.rideaccidents.com/

**CarolsCritterCare** · 07-15-2007, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJE

A girl died Saturday after falling from an amusement ride at Lifest.

http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/.../70714023/1987

This is horrible. I had not heard this. Sending prayers to the family.
Carol

pk · 07-15-2007, 08:41 AM

People worry about the safety of rides but another thought, what about the safety of those that work at the carnivals? Do you know how carefully the employees are screened by the company that has the carnival that comes through your area for a week or two? The following city does check the employees, but does your city? Hope it makes you wonder the next time your child is at the carnival and goes into the dark fun house.

Sex offender arrested at carnival kiddie ride convicted sex offender barred from having contact with children is accused of working at a Bloomingdale carnival.

Arthur J. Hardy, 34, will be arraigned Monday on felony charges related to his June 21 arrest in Springfield Park during Family Fest.

Hardy is not charged with harming anyone, but sex offenders are not allowed in a public park with children.

As a matter of course, Bloomingdale Detective Matt Wolenberg said, police check the backgrounds of all carnival workers before allowing them to work in town. Officers learned Hardy had a sexually violent history and was wanted on suspicion he failed to register his new address after moving from Rockford to Chicago

FULL STORY: http://www.dailyherald.com/news/dupa...?id=331421&c=d

pk · 07-15-2007, 08:50 AM

Quote:

This is horrible. I had not heard this. Sending prayers to the family.
Carol

My heart also goes out to this family and any family that loses a child. Especially when such a senseless accident happens. You send your child to an amusement park thinking you are letting her go on a grand adventure only to have your child hurt, or in this case worse. It's sad.

guess this just upsets me so much since we just recently had a dear friend of mine get injured on a ride. She could also have died. She is lucky she only has to have a broken back with a back brace.

But we still have her and she will be fine.

My own daughter hurt herself on a school 'blow up' carnival event they had. She ended up in a neck brace for many weeks.

It's sad. You just never know.

**CarolsCritterCare** · 07-15-2007, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pk

Sex offender arrested at carnival kiddie ride convicted sex offender barred from having contact with children is accused of working at a Bloomingdale carnival.

Arthur J. Hardy, 34, will be arraigned Monday on felony charges related to his June 21 arrest in Springfield Park during Family Fest.

Hardy is not charged with harming anyone, but sex offenders are not allowed in a public park with children.

FULL STORY: http://www.dailyherald.com/news/dupa...?id=331421&c=d

GEEZE.........someone didn't do a good job when they checked out this person. Sounds like no backround check was even done.
Carol

**j10asen** · 07-15-2007, 09:29 AM

moved to this location
http://www.thebubbler.com/modules.ph...16abcf0c#14062

pk · 07-15-2007, 11:23 AM

I think out of respect for the nature of this original post concerning the death of a teen I am going to start a new forum topic in the BREAK ROOM to address Carnival Saftey/employees/possible sex offenders/amusement parks etc. so we can discuss it in further depth.

I think there is alot that can be looked into concerning this subject that more people may view the issues if it was titled in the breakroom.

Please j10asen and everyone concerned with the issues join me there on this.

Again my heart goes out to any family that has lost a child or has a family member that has been injured on carnival rides.

thanks,

pk

**AJE** · 07-17-2007, 09:43 AM

Elizabeth K. Mohl of Menasha

Quote:

Authorities said she fell 40 to 50 feet.

Mohl died of massive trauma due to head, chest and abdominal injuries, Winnebago County Coroner Barry Busby said Monday. She died during emergency surgery, he said.

FDL Reporter
http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs...ocated=WISINFO

pk · 07-17-2007, 03:10 PM

Looking at this beautiful girl makes my heart go out to the family left behind after this horrible accident. It also makes me think how this could easily have been any one of our daughters going off to the county fair, amusement park, carnival. You never know when you put yourself on a ride the outcome of the few seconds of daring fun.

As I said before just recently my friend's little grandaughter has a broken back and in a back brace the rest of this summer merely from going down the giant slide (not the inflatable one). They had no idea she would go airborne because the slide was to slick. It happens. They were the lucky ones though, even though she will be in a brace she is alive. They say she could have died depending on how she fell.

Thank you for the update on this accident. Please add more when you find it.

pk

**AJE** · 07-18-2007, 07:25 AM

Funeral Plans Set for Lifest Ride Victim

Grief counselors are at Menasha High School Tuesday to help students deal with the death of 16-year-old Elizabeth Mohl. They'll be available until 3:30 in the afternoon.

Elizabeth died after falling from a ride at Lifest over the weekend.

Funeral arrangements for the Menasha teen are set for Wednesday. Visitation begins at 2 P.M. at New Hope Lutheran Church in Neenah. The funeral service follows at 6 P.M.

NEW HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH
1850 American Dr.
Neenah, WI 54956
920-725-4354

**AJE** · 07-19-2007, 08:30 AM

"The initial assessment seemed to indicate that the accident occurred due to issues with the safety harness, but (Department of Commerce investigator) Shirley (Noltemeyer) indicated there were considerable other issues with the supporting crane structure, ducted (sic) taped electrical connections etc.," Randy Baldwin, director of the agency's Bureau of Integrated Services, told staffers in a Sunday e-mail, which was obtained by Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers on Wednesday under the state's Open Records Law.

Inspection records indicate that the ride, built in 1979, was last inspected in Wisconsin on Aug. 24, 2004. It passed the check after an investigator determined six problems — related to fencing, barriers and wiring — that were identified in 2003 had been corrected. No inspection records were on file for 2005 or 2006.

http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/...707190448/1987

**AJE** · 07-24-2007, 11:42 AM

Safety Device at Center of Air Glory Investigation
WBAY-TV
by Natalie Arnold

The Winnebago district attorney reveals what he believes is at the heart of the state's probe. The DA says the Air Glory operator admitted a mistake was made.

That mistake, the District Attorney Christian Gossett says, involves this a D-ring on Air Glory that attaches the rider's harness to the cables.

http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=6814554