Fair ride chaos leads to teen charges

GROVETOWN, Ga. Columbia County deputies charged two 13-year-olds with intentionally causing a swing ride to go out of control during a county fair event.

A spokesperson for the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office stated that the teenagers had been warned not to grab each other while the ride was moving. Video taken by Kristen Murphy, whose children were on the ride, shows two riders on separate swings holding onto one another as the attraction appeared to become unstable while slowing down.

The incident resulted in injuries to three people. A woman was hurt after several swings collided, and she was transported from the fairgrounds in an ambulance. Two children were treated for minor injuries.

Murphy said she rushed toward the ride because she was worried about her children. “This ride has to stop,” Murphy said. “My kids are on it. Something’s happening. I need to get to them.” Other parents helped her husband at the control panel to slow the ride down.

The 13-year-olds received paperwork describing their charges and were permitted to leave the scene with their parents, according to the sheriff’s office.