As officials began their preliminary investigation of what went wrong when a dramatic midway accident sent six teenaged riders to hospital, it's business as usual at the Stampede in Calgary.
Reporting from the annual festival, CTV's Sage Pullen said the remaining midway rides were packed with riders Saturday, all eager to enjoy a day of fun undeterred by the events of Friday night when a mechanical arm of the "Scorpion" tore loose, injuring ten riders.
The ride consists of three arms, each of which lifts and spins several individual pods. Witnesses say one of the arms suddenly detached, pitching riders to the ground as a horrified crowd looked on.
"We were on the ride right before it crashed and it was loose鈥hen we were on the ride, (my friend) said to me: 'Is it supposed to be this loose?' The bucket was swinging," a witness told CTV News.
Dr. Paolo Federico's son was on the ride at the time of the crash. Fortunately, he was not on the arm that came crashing down.
"We heard a boom and when we turned around we flew right over the arm that flew off," Matthew Federico told CTV.
"People were all on the ground with sponges on their head and stuff like that. Very serious," said Chantal Sciore, who was on a nearby ride at the time and heard a loud bang.
"People who were on the ride with them, the kids, were bawling and screaming and crying and mass chaos. It was scary," added her friend Aida Sadr.
After confirming his own son was okay, Dr. Federico did what he could to assess the victims.
"I identified through a quick triage the two most seriously injured and those were the two that were partially in the car and lodged between the overturned car and the footing of the ride," Federico said Saturday. "They were both unconscious."
Six people between the ages of 13 and 19 were rushed to hospital while four others were treated at the site. None of the injuries appear to be life-threatening, and all are in stable condition.
Following the incident, Stampede spokesperson Doug Fraser confirmed a "mishap on a ride". Other Stampede officials said that fire crews stationed at the park were on the scene within minutes and immediately began helping people treating the victims.
Tony Diaz, general manager of North American Midway, which provides all the rides at the Stampede, said the rides are inspected daily.
"The devices are open, our daily inspections go on, and we continue to inspect with very competent inspectors and we will continue to inspect vigorously."
Such an accident is unprecedented since the company's founding in 2004, Diaz said.
"Safety is paramount to our company; it's the most important thing we do."
Officials cut power to the Scorpion Friday night, but other rides on the Stampede midway stayed open.
Stampede CEO Vern Kimball said his organization hadn't given any thought to what the midway accident could mean for the reputation of the western fair, which has operated in Calgary for almost 100 years.
"Our concern right now is for those that are injured and for the families that are affected by this incident. That's as far as we've given any thought at this moment."
This year's Stampede has seen other misfortune this year. Six horses, part of a show called The Greatest Show on Earth, died in separate incidents during the Stampede's first week. A young rodeo competitor was also hospitalized after she hit her head and her horse rolled on top of her.
Friday's accident will be investigated by both the company that operated the ride, North American Midway, as well as the Alberta Elevating Devices and Amusement Rides Safety Association. The official investigation, which may take weeks, is expected to begin Monday.
With files from CTV's Sage Pullen in Calgary
