At least eight people were taken by ambulance to the Medical Center at Bowling Green's emergency room Saturday evening after being injured when a ride at Beech Bend Amusement Park toppled over. Nearly a dozen more people were expected at the hospital in their own private vehicles. None of the injuries were considered critical.
The Warren County Sheriff's Office and the Medical Center's Emergency Medical Services responded to the park just after 6:00 Saturday evening after receiving reports a swing ride known as "The Jitterbug" fell over. News reports early Sunday morning indicated uneven weight distribution may have led to the accident.
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Division of Regulation and Inspection is responsible for the inspection and safety of amusement park rides in the state.
Update 7/27 6:10 a.m.
Officials raised the number of those who suffered minor injuries from 8 up to at least 12. Warren County Sheriff's Department Public Information Officer Stephen Harmon said most were taken to area hospitals in private vehicles, not ambulances.
The sheriff's department was on the scene Saturday night mostly in a support role, Harmon said, keeping crowds away from the scene and clearing lanes for emergency vehicles to get in and out.
Beech Bend owner Dallas Jones told WKU Public Radio agents from the agriculture department's division of regulation and inspection were on the scene of the accident until dark Saturday. They'll continue their investigation of the scene Monday. the remains of the ride have been removed from the park. Jones said investigators may have found a couple of broken bolts at the scene Saturday that they'll be investigating.