After one person was killed and seven others were injured when a ride malfunctioned at the Ohio State Fair Wednesday night, many are asking if festival and amusement park rides are safe.
>> RELATED: Ohio State Fair ride accident: 1 dead, 7 hurt, Fair open Thursday, rides to remain shut down
Amusement park and festival ride accidents in Ohio are uncommon, according to a Dayton Daily News investigation conducted last year.
>> RELATED: Regulators, reports say rides safe, but accidents happen
The only ride-related death in Ohio over the last three years happened in 2015 when a 45-year-old man was struck by a roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky. Police said the man had finished riding the Raptor roller coaster and jumped a fence to retrieve a cell phone when he was hit by the ride.
>> RELATED: No major problems with roller coaster that fatally struck man
Last year, the state’s chief ride inspector said most accidents are not caused by ride operators, but from people with pre-existing conditions who ignore warnings or putting kids on a ride who aren’t ready.
>> RELATED: Ohio State Fair accident: Other serious events at fairs or on rides in Ohio
BY THE NUMBERS
Ohio ride safety inspection program
Number of accidents
2014 - 12
2015 - 5
2016 - 3
Number of deaths
2014 - 0
2015 - 1
2016 - 0