MEADVILLE, Pa. –– Last week’s fatal accident at the Ohio State Fair has drawn increased attention and fear to amusement rides.

The accident on the swinging and spinning “Fire Ball” left one person dead and seven others injured Wednesday evening. Ohio Gov. John Kasich ordered all rides at the fair closed immediately and ordered them inspected again. Since the accident some rides have opened.

The Fire Ball swings 24 riders back and forth like a pendulum 40 feet above the ground while they sit facing each other in four-seat carriages that spin at 13 revolutions a minute, according to the company’s website.

The ride’s Dutch manufacturer has told operators of the attraction at fairs and festivals worldwide to stop using it until more is learned about what caused the malfunction.

Video taken by a bystander of the swinging, spinning Fire Ball ride in action captured a crashing sound. A section holding four riders came apart, and screams could be heard as at least two people were ejected and plunged toward the ground. Other riders were still in their seats as they fell.

Those scenes quickly surfaced on social media, but it didn’t stop Crawford County, Pennsylvania, Fair Board member Bill Winters from endorsing the safety of the rides at next month’s Crawford County Fair.

“God forbid something like that happen at our fair,” Winters said as he met with fellow board members Bill Good and George Deshner at the fairgrounds just east of Meadville. “We had a horrible thing happen (in Ohio), but that shouldn’t taint all these ride companies. Obviously, the last thing they want is for someone to get hurt.”

For the second consecutive year rides at the Crawford County Fair will be operated by Bates Brothers Amusement Co. of Winterville, Ohio.

“They are the Cadillac in this area,” Winters said.

Walter Remmert said the department, which oversees ride safety in the state, has no record of any ride infractions by Bates Brothers Amusement Co.

Inspection requirements for individual rides are provided by ride manufacturers, Remmert said, and rides are inspected by licensed inspectors. Inspections must take place once every 30 days or every time a ride is set up to be operated, whichever comes sooner.

In reality, Remmert said, “Amusement rides and attractions are inspected much more often than required by law.”

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there have been 22 fatalities caused by “thrill rides” since 2010, including last week’s death in Ohio.

This story was originally published for the Meadville, Pennsylvania Tribune.