No Criminal Charges Planned Following Fatal Ohio State Fair Thrill Ride Accident

The people riding a thrill ride that broke apart at the Ohio State Fair last July have told investigators operators had trouble latching the safety harness on one of the riders who was ejected. Witnesses gave conflicting statements on whether they thought a 19-year-old woman tossed from the Fire Ball ride had been secured properly. The Ohio Highway Patrol says operators were not to blame when one of the ride's carriages broke off. The patrol says the ride had been properly inspected before the accident, which killed an 18-year-old man and critically injured his girlfriend. Troopers believe the two people who were ejected were latched in because firefighters found their harnesses were still locked down afterward. Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien says he won't file criminal charges. A civil lawsuit is pending.