YARMOUTH — A carousel at the Yarmouth Clam Festival was shut down for a few hours after it malfunctioned Friday morning, causing minor injuries to a toddler in the third accident involving the ride operator in a little over a month.
The carousel was part of a carnival operated at the festival by Smokey’s Greater Shows, the company that owns the rides on which four people were injured in two separate accidents at an event in Waterville in June.
After the Waterville accidents, the Friends of Windjammer Days in Boothbay Harbor decided against using rides operated by Smokey’s Greater Shows.
Other festivals, however, stuck with the company, including the Skowhegan State Fair and the Yarmouth Clam Festival.
Yarmouth Fire Chief Michael Robitaille said two horses on the carousel became dislodged from their tracks, causing the toddler to fall and bump his head. The toddler did not require medical attention, he said.
Robitaille described the accident as a mechanical malfunction and said it was not related to human error.
“This is a fluke incident,” he said.
The ride was shut down for a few hours while the state fire marshal’s office conducted an investigation. Shortly before 3 p.m. the ride was allowed to reopen, and fire marshals left the scene.
The fire marshal’s office could not immediately be reached for comment Friday on the extent of the inspection, what caused the accident and whether any violations of state safety regulations occurred.
Smokey’s owner, Jeanette Gilmore, was charged with a civil violation and a Smokey’s employee was charged with a misdemeanor this month in connection with two separate ride accidents at a Waterville carnival.
Gilmore, who was attending the carnival Friday, would not comment on the malfunctioning carousel.
“We’ve been in business for 60 years and have a great safety record,” said Gilmore, of Strong. “We are very attentive to our rides.”
Robitaille, the fire chief, said the carnival was inspected in the days leading up to the festival by Yarmouth fire and code enforcement officials, and that Smokey’s insurance company had just completed a three-day inspection of all the rides.
Jasmine Eagan, who was visiting from Vermont, rode the carousel with her elementary school-age daughter after it reopened. She said she did not know the ride had closed down for a few hours, but she wasn’t worried about it.
“It is what it is,” she said.
The Yarmouth Clam Festival is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and runs through Sunday, with thousands expected to attend. Activities include clam shucking contests, an appearance by the Portland Symphony Orchestra and the Friday night parade.
Last month, four people were injured in the accidents on rides operated by Smokey’s Greater Shows at a carnival at Waterville’s Head of Falls Park.
Three children, all under the age of 6, were hurt when cars on a roller coaster uncoupled and slammed into each other on June 12. Investigators said that accident was caused by an equipment malfunction.
The next day, a woman was thrown from a swing ride and taken to a local hospital, although investigators said she may have contributed to the accident by not boarding the ride properly.
Gilmore, the owner of Smokey’s was issued a summons related to the second incident for failing to train one of her operators – a civil violation punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.
The supervisor of the first ride, Arthur Gillette, 49, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was charged with falsifying physical evidence for allegedly trying to repair the roller coaster before investigators arrived.
He faces up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
Smokey’s Greater Shows has a long history of providing amusement rides for fairs and festivals across the state.
Joe Lawlor can be contacted at 791-6376 or at:
jlawlor@pressherald.com
Twitter: joelawlorph
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