County fair in New Jersey shuts down ride similar to one in Ohio accident

NEW JERSEY (FOX 5 NEWS) - The Monmouth County Fair in Freehold, New Jersey, just opened Wednesday but a ride featured is similar to the one involved in a deadly accident at the Ohio State Fair. So on Thursday officials took steps to make sure a tragedy like that doesn't happen here. The fair shut down the claw, which is similar to the Fire Ball, which malfunctioned in Ohio.

"The decision was made by the vendor after notified of the incident in Ohio they made the decision to put it out of service this evening," said Superintendent of Parks Matt Coleman, the chairman of the fair. "New Jersey state inspectors came in the morning. Officials put the ride out of service until further information is gathered and a plan of inspection will take place."

Coleman said that the manufacturer of the claw, KMG, also manufactures the Fire Ball. Records show that inspections were up to date for the Fire Ball and that the state of Ohio had just issued a permit for the ride. That is the same situation in New Jersey. The Claw was just inspected.

"The ride was inspected on Wednesday morning prior to the fair opening it was deemed safe and operable as well as the other ride," Coleman said.

Some fairgoers were disappointed to learn the Claw was taken out of service.

At this point, it is unclear if the ride will remain out of service for the rest of the fair, which ends Sunday. Coleman said that decision is up to New Jersey state inspectors and the vendor.