Family of teen killed on ride returns to Ohio State Fair to promote safety

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

The family of Tyler Jarrell, the 18-year-old who was killed at last year’s Ohio State Fair in Columbus, returned to the fairgrounds today to promote ride safety.

Tyler’s girlfriend, Keziah Lewis, her mother, and Tyler’s mother, Amber Duffield, arrived hand-in-hand to the Ohio State Fair this morning. The group is on a mission to promote a proposed ride safety reform plan that came about after the deadly accident on the Fireball ride a year ago.

>> Ohio State Fair Tragedy: One Year Later

“That change needs to happen,” said Lewis. “I see so many young people, old people, all different colors. It would be a shame for anything like this to happen again.”

Lewis said she’s shocked that the state still has only eight full-time ride inspectors, covering not only the state fair, but every other fair and festival statewide.

>> Year after State Fair tragedy, families ‘live with this every day’

Authorities said they have increased ride inspections, but the reform bill, that has many more improvements, has only received one hearing. If it passes, it would cover events anywhere there are amusement rides.

“I think it would impact Ohio positively,” said Duffield. “From ziplines to fairs to Cedar Point, to whatever.”

>> How common are festival ride accidents?

When the family reached the spot where Tyler died, there were many tears, hugs of support, and promises to keep up the pressure for more ride safety.

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