Boy still critical after being hit by Ex ride

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This article was published 20/06/2013 (4722 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A boy remains in critical condition in hospital this morning after being accidently struck by a ride at the Red River Exhibition early Thursday evening.

The accident took place at about 6:15 p.m.

A witness to the event said she saw the boy, who she estimated was about 12 years old, run onto the track of the Crazy Mouse roller-coaster ride after he dropped his hat. He was likely trying to retrieve it, said Uma Jacoby, 13.

Uma said one of the Crazy Mouse’s cars hit the boy, who was left unconscious and later attended to by paramedics.

“He was hit really hard,” Uma said. “His parents must have been there, too, because there was a woman screaming for him.”

Jacoby and her friend, Michaela Rykiss, 13, were in line waiting to ride the Crazy Mouse. As soon as the boy was hit, the ride was shut down, Uma said.

Uma denied rumours swirling around the exhibition grounds that the boy was pushed from behind. “He definitely wasn’t pushed,” she insisted.

Red River Ex CEO Garth Rogerson said initial eyewitness reports indicate the boy was not on the ride but somehow wandered onto the roller-coaster track and was struck by one of the cars.

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Rogerson said the ride was shut down immediately. It must now be inspected by provincial authorities.
The boy was unconscious when he was taken to hospital.

Rogerson could not confirm the boy’s condition, but said, “He’s obviously in serious condition because he was hit by the car. I mean, these cars move fast.”

The Free Press will provide further information as it is received.

Police are investigating.

If you witnessed the event please contact the newsroom at webnews@freepress.com or call 204-697-7292.

Randy Turner
Reporter

Randy Turner spent much of his journalistic career on the road. A lot of roads. Dirt roads, snow-packed roads, U.S. interstates and foreign highways. In other words, he got a lot of kilometres on the odometer, if you know what we mean.

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