Amusement Ride Accident Injures Five

WILDWOOD – Ten weeks to the day that an 11-year-old girl was killed in a freak accident while on a ride at Morey’s Pier, five passengers were injured on another ride at the beach front amusement park.
At approximately 9:15 p.m. on Fri., Aug. 19, police were called to Mariner’s Landing in response to a partial ride collapse. When police arrived they found the center mast of the Sea Dragon ride had snapped while the ride was in motion.
Wildwood and North Wildwood fire/rescue personnel responded to the incident. One child, a 13-year-old boy, was transported to Cape Regional Medical Center for treatment. Four other passengers of the ride were treated by fire/rescue teams at the scene.
The Wildwood Crest Rescue Squad also responded to the scene but was later recalled.
Pedestrians out for an early Sat. morning stroll on the Boardwalk stopped to see the damaged ride. Approximately 30 feet from the broken ride, the Ferris wheel where Abiah Jones fell to her death on June 3, was slowly spinning and offering passengers “Breakfast in the Sky”
“It’s a bad tragedy; an accident,” said Shirley Taylor as she stood in front of the broken Sea Dragon. . Taylor, a resident of Philadelphia, was spending her last moments at the seaside resort looking at the ride. “It’s one of my favorite rides,” she said. “I came down on Tuesday and I’m leaving today. I’m glad I was able to ride it.”
The Morey Organization, owners of Mariners Landing issued a statement saying, “On Fri., Aug. 19, at approximately 9:15 p.m., a section of steel scenery became detached from the Sea Dragon attraction on Mariner’s Landing and struck at least one rider. Several guests were treated in first aid and released. One guest was transported to a local hospital to receive further treatment.”
The ride, which passed its annual inspection on Apr. 14, 2011 by the New Jersey Division of Community Affairs (DCA), has no history of accidents or malfunctions. “There have been no other incidents or accidents on the ride, since 2003, the earliest date in our database,” said Hollie Gilroy, a spokesperson for the DCA.
Local and state authorities are continuing their investigation.