Seven kids hurt when wind lifts inflatable slide at county fair

[matcom]

<snip>

MINERSVILLE - Seven children were taken to the hospital with cuts, bruises and scrapes Saturday after a powerful wind lifted an inflatable slide into the air and upended it at the Beaver County Fair just east of Minersville.

The children were thrown from the ride, which was about 20 feet tall, and were scattered in a gravel parking lot where it was set up with three other inflatable features.

"The wind got underneath it and tipped it upside down," said Sheriff Kenneth Yardley. His office is conducting an invest- igation.

Les Whitney, fire chief for one of the the county's two fire districts, said he was in Minersville loading fireworks for the fair's pyrotechnic finale when he heard the call go out for ambulances.

"Kids were lying everywhere," said Whitney. "Seven kids were transported to the hospital with minor injuries." The hospital isn't releasing any information on the victims.

Whitney said the children, who ranged in age from 2 to 12, were taken to the hospital in Beaver, about 20 miles away. He said some were knocked out momentarily and all suffered scrapes, bruises and lacerations.

"It's amazing they were not hurt worse than they were," he said.

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2394373

[Spinzonner]

1. Hey, a Kidapult