07/30/01: 4 Dead at County Fair

[Freakapotimus]

Monday July 30 09:00 AM EDT

4 Dead in County Fair Blast
By ABCNEWS.com

Four dead, dozens injured at county fair.

Four people were killed and dozens injured when an antique steam engine exploded at an Ohio county fair Sunday evening, sending hot oil and shrapnel flying through the air.

One police officer, two steam-engine operators and a vendor setting up a booth near the display were killed in the blast , according to the Medina county sheriff's office.

At least 40 others were injured in the blast. Fair spokeswoman Allison Pitit said the injuries ranged from burns to lacerations caused by the debris. They were being brought to area hospitals for treatment.

Medina is about 30 miles southwest of Cleveland.

At Least One Child Burned Badly

"It was bad. Real bad," one unidentified witness said. "A bunch of little kids like 12, 12 little kids, were up in there. It was horrible... the worst thing I've ever seen in my life."

A child brought to Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron had burns over 100 percent of the body, The Associated Press reported. That child's condition is unknown.

The deceased have been identified as Alan Kimble, 46; Cliff Kovacic, 48; William Kovacic, 27; and Dennis Jungbluth, 58.

Turn-of-the-Century Relic Turns Deadly

The yellow-and-red steam engine was of the type used by farmers a century ago to power their equipment. But the beautiful relic turned deadly when it exploded from the inside, the force of the blast sending shrapnel hundreds of feet.

"Everything shook and everything jumped up," said eyewitness Adam Black. "You could hear shrapnel hitting the building and just pieces coming everywhere."

Black said he and other bystanders tried to put the fire out.

"We grabbed buckets and just started running over there with water," he said. "Hundreds of buckets."

Engine a Regular Exhibit at Fair

Fire chief Bill Herthneck said the engine was a regular exhibit at the fair.

"This is a piece of an old antique steam engine tractor that is routinely here and they were starting it up and running it, as they always do," he said.

Herthneck said there was no fire, only an explosion, and the injuries were all "immediate and in great number."

Ken Visocky said the scene after the blast looked like a war zone.

"Like being in Vietnam," he said.

Fair to Open as Scheduled

Although the fair was not officially open, its gates were and many people were bringing their animals in for livestock competitions. There was also a harness racing event at the fairgrounds on Sunday.

Fair president Dave Bertram told The Associated Press the event would open, as scheduled, today.

"It's a tragedy," he told the news agency. "Our sympathies go out to the people. My emotions right now are going crazy."

Police say it may be several days before they know what caused the explosion, as witnesses are spread out throughout area hospitals and it will take some time to interview them all.

ABCNEWS Radio contributed to this report.

[Pantomime-Horse]

At 7/30/01 10:00 AM, Freakapotimus wrote: Monday July 30 09:00 AM EDT

4 Dead in County Fair Blast
By ABCNEWS.com

Four dead, dozens injured at county fair.

Four people were killed and dozens injured when an antique steam engine exploded at an Ohio county fair Sunday evening, sending hot oil and shrapnel flying through the air.

One police officer, two steam-engine operators and a vendor setting up a booth near the display were killed in the blast , according to the Medina county sheriff's office.

At least 40 others were injured in the blast. Fair spokeswoman Allison Pitit said the injuries ranged from burns to lacerations caused by the debris. They were being brought to area hospitals for treatment.

Medina is about 30 miles southwest of Cleveland.

At Least One Child Burned Badly

"It was bad. Real bad," one unidentified witness said. "A bunch of little kids like 12, 12 little kids, were up in there. It was horrible... the worst thing I've ever seen in my life."

A child brought to Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron had burns over 100 percent of the body, The Associated Press reported. That child's condition is unknown.

The deceased have been identified as Alan Kimble, 46; Cliff Kovacic, 48; William Kovacic, 27; and Dennis Jungbluth, 58.

Turn-of-the-Century Relic Turns Deadly

The yellow-and-red steam engine was of the type used by farmers a century ago to power their equipment. But the beautiful relic turned deadly when it exploded from the inside, the force of the blast sending shrapnel hundreds of feet.

"Everything shook and everything jumped up," said eyewitness Adam Black. "You could hear shrapnel hitting the building and just pieces coming everywhere."

Black said he and other bystanders tried to put the fire out.

"We grabbed buckets and just started running over there with water," he said. "Hundreds of buckets."

Engine a Regular Exhibit at Fair

Fire chief Bill Herthneck said the engine was a regular exhibit at the fair.

"This is a piece of an old antique steam engine tractor that is routinely here and they were starting it up and running it, as they always do," he said.

Herthneck said there was no fire, only an explosion, and the injuries were all "immediate and in great number."

Ken Visocky said the scene after the blast looked like a war zone.

"Like being in Vietnam," he said.

Fair to Open as Scheduled

Although the fair was not officially open, its gates were and many people were bringing their animals in for livestock competitions. There was also a harness racing event at the fairgrounds on Sunday.

Fair president Dave Bertram told The Associated Press the event would open, as scheduled, today.

"It's a tragedy," he told the news agency. "Our sympathies go out to the people. My emotions right now are going crazy."

Police say it may be several days before they know what caused the explosion, as witnesses are spread out throughout area hospitals and it will take some time to interview them all.

ABCNEWS Radio contributed to this report.

There isn't much to say about this, no kind of politics(even on an intersocial lever) seems relevent, A machine exploded, nobody blew it up allthough from my knowledge of steam it shouldn't have exploded if it's governor valve was functioning, It was deffinately fitted with such a device in one form or another, if the machine was correctly maintained it would function.

[wdfcverfgtghm]

Turn-of-the-Century Relic Turns Deadly

Holy jesus turn of the century! Thats OOOOOOLD! that's like what!?!?! a year? No more like 15 ENTIRE months! That's crazy! That's like 21 gap fashion statments ago!

[pyroarchy]

Maybe this will spawn a new cheap TV show "When antique steam tractor engines go bad!"