URGENT UPDATE: Two young girls were injured after being thrown from a Ferris wheel at the Harvest Festival in New Roads, Louisiana, on November 1, 2023. Witnesses report a terrifying scene as the girls, both under the age of 13, fell from the ride, prompting immediate emergency response.
Eyewitnesses described a shocking incident, noting that they heard a “loud boom” as the girls were ejected from their basket. Madison Fields, who attended the festival, recounted, “It was two girls, and one of the girls fell on her face, and she was really damaged.” Fields suggested that the basket tipped after getting caught on a foreign object, causing the horrific fall.
The girls were quickly transported to hospitals for treatment, with one being flown to a facility in Baton Rouge. The current condition of the injured girls remains unknown as authorities continue to investigate the incident.
Video footage shared on social media shows police and bystanders rushing to assist one of the injured girls who was lying on the ground in visible distress. Another group was seen helping the second girl out of the Ferris wheel basket. Festival attendee Eddie Jones expressed his fears, stating, “Yeah, I’ll probably never get on another Ferris wheel again.” Fields added her own sense of dread, saying, “It was sad and upsetting, like, because, what if that could have been me?”
The Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal is actively investigating the incident, with Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Rene Thibodeaux confirming that all rides at the festival have been temporarily shut down. An inspection was conducted, and while all rides except for the Ferris wheel have resumed operation, the future of the Ferris wheel remains uncertain.
This tragic incident has raised serious concerns about ride safety at amusement events, prompting calls for enhanced regulations and inspections. As the community rallies around the victims, many are left questioning the safety of carnival rides.
The Harvest Festival, which has been ongoing since late October, concluded as scheduled on November 2, but the aftermath of this event will linger in the minds of those who attended. Authorities urge anyone with additional information to come forward as they continue their investigation into this alarming incident.
Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
