State Issues Initial Finding in Ferris Wheel Fatality

WILDWOOD – The state’s Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has released the preliminary report of its findings regarding the death of 11-year-old Abiah Jones at Morey’s Pier on June 3.
Jones was killed after falling from the Ferris wheel, known as the Giant Wheel. Jones, a student at PleasanTech Academy, was visiting the pier on a school field trip.
In its findings, the DCA stated that Jones was loaded into a gondola as a single rider. Shortly after she was loaded, another group was loaded into three other gondolas, approximately 180 degrees from Jones. The report notes that the gondolas, in close proximity to the one occupied by Jones, were unoccupied. After loading the second set of riders, the ride was in motion. At that point, Jones fell.
The report states that she sustained significant head trauma as well as cuts on her arms and shoulders.
Security cameras captured a partial video of the incident. The video shows Jones falling while her gondola was near the highest point of the ride. While the video shows Jones falling, it does not show Jones leaving the gondola. During the fall she came in contact with the ride structure, a sign, steel fencing, and a metal deck adjacent to the ride. Until the victim landed, operators of the ride were unaware there was a problem.
According to the report, DCA inspected the gondola and found no mechanical defects. All other gondolas on the ride were also inspected and no malfunctions or defects were noted.
The ride was operated with inspectors inside the gondola from which Jones fell. Nothing abnormal was found. The ride’s manual was also consulted. It was noted that only children over age 10 should ride alone. In addition to the age restriction, Morey’s Pier imposed a height restriction of 54 inches. Jones met both criteria.
The report notes that the Giant Wheel has operated for more than 25 years without a serious incident. It further states that the railing around the seats is “sufficiently high to make it impossible for a properly seated patron to fall out of the vehicle ab-sent some major malfunction of the ride. It is possible that a patron either kneeling or standing on the seat could fall from the ride if they lost their balance, chose to leave the vehicle, or simply leaned too far out of the ride.”
It further states, “Absent any witnesses or conclusive video, it is unknown which of these occurred. It can be said with some confidence that the victim was not properly seated in the vehicle.”
While the report does not recommend any change to the design of the ride, it does recommend an operation change to help prevent other accidents. “The fact that Abiah Jones was alone in the gondola without any near passengers may have led her to take a risk that she would have been convinced not to take if there were other riders in the gondola.”
The DCA is recommending to all operators who operate open compartment Ferris wheels that, effective immediately, riders should be a minimum height of 54 inches to ride without a parent or guardian.
It states that there should be a minimum of two riders per vehicle. If the ride’s manufacturer sets more restrictive criteria, that criteria must be followed. A letter dated June 10, 2011 has been sent to all operators noting the changes. The letter also states “The Department intends to introduce rules that will make this a requirement in the near future.”
A spokesperson for the Morey Organization said, “We have received a copy of the report and it is being reviewed.”