Two young girls were injured after being thrown from a Ferris wheel at the Harvest Festival in New Roads, Louisiana, on Saturday (November 1). According to Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Rene Thibodeaux, the girls, both around 11 years old, fell 15 to 25 feet to the ground. One girl was airlifted to a hospital, and both are currently in the intensive care unit with serious injuries, including broken bones and a possible brain bleed. A third girl on the ride managed to hold on and was not injured.

Witnesses described the chaotic scene, with Eddie Jones, a festival attendee, telling TODAY that he heard a scream and saw the Ferris wheel car tipped over. Ronald Brasseaux, who rode the Ferris wheel the previous night, told WAFB that he felt unsafe due to a cracking noise and suspected the hinges on the cart might have been stuck. He suggested that the cart was supposed to swing but got stuck at an angle, causing the girls to fall out.

Investigators have not confirmed what caused the young girls to fall from the cart.

The Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the incident, and all rides at the festival were temporarily shut down. While most rides have since reopened, the Ferris wheel remains closed. The festival, which celebrates agriculture and community, continued with other activities, including food and live music. Crescent City Amusements, the company that owns the Ferris wheel, has not yet commented on the incident.

Bret Saunders