Saturday at the Lincoln County Fair was supposed to be a fun family day. Instead, two young children ended up hospitalized after incidents on carnival rides. A girl was ejected from one attraction and struck a fence, suffering a concussion, while a 4-year-old boy fell beneath a mini-tractor ride and was run over multiple times before his mother rescued him. Both children were treated and released, but the circumstances surrounding these incidents are raising important questions about amusement ride safety at county fairs and traveling shows in our area.
What makes these incidents particularly concerning is what witnesses and parents observed. According to those present, the rides appeared to be operating at excessive speeds, and ride attendants didn’t seem to be paying adequate attention to the children using the attractions. The operator, Fun Time Shows, had passed its annual safety inspection prior to the fair, so the focus now shifts to whether those inspections are thorough enough and whether operators are consistently following safety protocols during actual operation. It’s also raising questions about operator training, staffing levels, and how quickly safety issues are escalated to fair management.
For parents in our community, this incident is a reminder to stay alert at public events. Watch your children closely, observe how rides are being operated, speak up if something feels unsafe, and don’t hesitate to ask fair staff about safety procedures. Know the warning signs of a poorly-run attraction: inattentive staff, rides that seem too aggressive for the age group, and children who appear uncomfortable or scared. What questions do you wish the Lincoln County Fair Board would answer about what happened, and what changes would make you feel more confident about carnival ride safety?
