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Boy goes for wild ride on runaway inflatable

Photos: Inflatable rolls with kids inside

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An inflatable obstacle course ride got loose with an 11-year-old boy holding on just after 3:40 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at Goldman Park in Middletown. The ride turned end-to-end as parents rushed to catch the ride, which was stabbed to deflate it and retrieve the boy.

Contributed photo by Linda Tucker An inflatable obstacle course ride got loose with an 11-year-old boy holding on just after 3:40 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at Goldman Park in Middletown. The ride turned end-to-end as parents rushed to catch the ride, which was stabbed to deflate it and retrieve the boy.

By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer Updated 2:35 PM Monday, June 29, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — An 11-year-old boy got the ride of his life, thankfully without serious injury, Saturday afternoon, June 27, when an infatable ride went airborne with the boy inside.

Tyler Maloney was on the obstacle course bounce ride with other children in Goldman Park about 3:40 p.m. when somehow the inflatable unit pulled away from the ground and floated end over end with Mahoney hanging on, according to Middletown police and witnesses.

People watching softball tournament games in the park began running toward the dangling boy and eventually stabbed the huge ride to deflate it. The boy was checked by paramedics and transported to Atrium Medical Center for treatment.

“When he got out to the hospital, they checked him out and he wasn’t injured. I am sure he will be sore tomorrow though,” said Middletown police Sgt. Scott Reeve. “He sure went for a ride.”

Witnesses said the boy was 40 feet in the air at one point, according to police.

Several other children received minor bruises and scrapes from being in the path of the runaway ride.

Linda Tucker of Monroe was watching her daughter’s softball team play in the tournament, snapping game pictures when, “all of a sudden, someone screamed” and parents started running toward an inflatable that got loose with children still in it.

“They were blowing end to end — over a car, over fences,” Tucker said.

“That could have been anyone’s child in there,” she said.

Reeve said the inflatable equipment was set up by a local organization, Young American Youth Advancement Services, which was running the softball event. The president of the Middletown-based company, Harry Gabbard, could not be reached for comment Saturday night.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lpack@coxohio.com.

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Our ball team was a part of this terribly run tournament. After our very short experience with the YAYAS, it does not surprise me at all the "YAYAS" was stamped all over the inflatables. We had a moment of ignorance and allowed our players to play on the rides and as we are very sorry for those who were a part of the tragedy, we are very happy that we took our kids off of it after seeing the lack of supervision.
It was a hot windless day. Wind had absolutely nothing to do with the accident!

LM
6:18 PM, 6/29/2009

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Darrell - that was not an 80mph wind...not even close and to the poster saying the spikes were code, that is false...1/2 inch rebar maybe 12" long...I know a person from Trenton who picked up a volleyball peg that came off the inflateable; maybe 8"...if it was inspected by the state, you better be ready to produce the certificate

Tim
4:23 PM, 6/29/2009

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I was there with my 7 year old girl getting ready to play a softball game.When a dust devil sparked up out of nowhere.It was the biggest dust devil I've ever seen.I'd say the winds picked up to over 80 mph or so.And that is what caused the Inflatables to let loose.

Darrell Petrey
3:10 PM, 6/29/2009

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Like I'd said prior, I was one of the 1st to jump on the thing. I also think it was a mini-tornado / dirt-devil type wind. As I ran towards it I could for sure feel MUCH higher winds as I got closer. If you take a look at picture 4 you can actually see the dirt-devil hitting Field 3 with dirt and stuff flying upwards. When it came across where the rides were it was on the grass and not visable.
Regardless of that the stakes were way to short to hold them down - I saw them 10" and 16" tops.

MT
12:36 PM, 6/29/2009

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CD ANSWER THIS QUESTION?

You posted the following..

"The state inspector was out on Friday night and did all inspections for the inflatables and he approved everything.
CD
8:45 AM, 6/29/2009 REPORT ABUSE"

You even refered to the inspecter as a him and not a her.

What department was this inspector with?
Did you talk with the inspector?

Put a few more facts describing this inspector. I am doubting at all if there were inspections period!

D
12:06 PM, 6/29/2009

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