Tennessee

Fair officials apologize for downplaying ride injuries

Associated Press
Published | Updated

The Moonraker ride sits idle after several riders were taken to hospitals after it shut down at the Delta Fair in Memphis, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Matt Snyder, the fair's safety director, said the ride's computer detected a problem and immediately began a safety shutdown, but as it began to descend, the operator panicked and pressed a manual override button that released the safety restraints before it settled into its cradle. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz) (The Associated Press)

The Moonraker ride sits idle after several riders were taken to hospitals after it shut down at the Delta Fair in Memphis, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Matt Snyder, the fair's safety director, said the ride's computer detected a problem and immediately began a safety shutdown, but as it began to descend, the operator panicked and pressed a manual override button that released the safety restraints before it settled into its cradle. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz) (The Associated Press)

Officials at a fair in Memphis where eight riders were hurt say they were told initially by first responders that there were no visible injuries.

Officials apologized in a statement Sunday for initially downplaying the injuries. Among the injuries were a fractured leg, wrist and collarbone.

The injuries happened Saturday on the Moonraker, which spins around an axis and tilts up and down on an angle.

Delta Fair safety director Matt Snyder said the ride's computer detected a problem and immediately began safety shutdown. As the ride stopped spinning and began to descend, the operator panicked and pressed a manual override button that released lap bar safety restraints.

Some riders fell into the metal bars or slid out of their seats. No one fell off the ride.