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Samantha Hayes reportingA mother from Clinton, Utah, is now thinking twice about something her family used to enjoy doing every year--the annual city carnival.
Last weekend her son was hurt when one of the rides fell apart.
The weekend carnival was part of the Clinton Heritage Days Festival. Organizers say they they've never had a ride break before.
They clean it up so fast, you'd never know there was a carnival on the Clinton City recreation field over the weekend. The chairs are folded and the tents are gone, but seven-year-old Riley Guibord won't ever forget what happened on the Laser Ship ride.
Riley Guibord, Injured on ride: "When we spinned around a couple of times, there was a piece missing and it was all rusty and it just cracked and it flipped me out."
His mother watched it happen.
"Heidi Guibord, Mother: "Sheer terror. It was frightening. It was awful."
Riley spent the night in the hospital, but he's okay.
The Laser Ship ride carries kids around in a circle and up and down in a rocket-shaped car about five feet off the ground. Heidi Guibord says the arm on one of the cars broke off.
Heidi Guibord: "The little rocket fell sideways, broke off the top part, and ejected the two kids."
Organizer LeeAnne Powell says the city has used Arizona-based Midway West Amusements since 1998.
LeAnne Powell, Recreation Director: "Very reputable company. We've worked with them for several years, and we've been very impressed with their level of professionalism."
The Department of Consumer Protection says amusement ride companies are not regulated in Utah. It's up to individual cities to make the rules.
LeAnne Powell: "Once they are set up on site, our people go through with them doing an inspection. Then they have a daily log where they inspect the rides at least once a day, often two or three times a day, depending on when they are open."
We tried to contact the owner of Midway West Amusement, but they haven't gotten back to us yet. Clinton city police is also investigating the accident.
