WILDWOOD — The Ferris wheel from which an 11-year-old girl fell to her death on June 3 will reopen on Sat., June 18. Abiah Jones of Pleasantville, a student at PleasanTech Academy was visiting Morey’s Pier as part of a school field trip.
In a statement issued by Morey’s Pier, the ride will be reopened June 18.
A preliminary report of the investigation done by the NJ Department of Community Affairs (DCA) stated that there were no mechanical defects with the ride. In the manual for the Giant Wheel it requires passengers to be over the age of 10. Morey’s Pier imposed a height restriction of 54 inches. Jones met both criteria. The report also states that Jones was riding alone in gondola number 3 at the time of the accident..
In its report the DCA states, “…The fact that Abiah Jones was alone in the gondola without any nearby passengers may have led her to take a risk that she would have been convinced not to take if there were other riders in the gondola. For rides that reach an elevation where patrons could sustain serious injury, that allow riders to be unrestrained, and that are not fully enclosed, the Department recommends the following: A minimum height of 54 inches to ride without a parent or guardian and a minimum of two riders per vehicle…”
“Morey’s Pier supports and has accepted the N.J. Department of Community Affairs’ statewide recommendation that operators of open compartment Ferris wheels adopt a policy that there be a minimum of two riders per vehicle. Our existing policy that an adult must accompany anyone under the age of 10 will remain. As an additional measure of safety, Morey’s Piers will also increase its prior minimum height requirement to ride with out an adult from the now State required 54 inches to a new minimum height of 60 inches.”
Attorneys representing the family of Abiah Jones issued a statement asking that the ride not be opened until the cars can be retrofitted with lap restraints.
“Based on the facts as we know them today, we believe, and the parents of Abiah agree, the Giant Wheel ride should not resume until it can be retrofitted with lap restraints in each car. Otherwise, what happened to Abiah Jones could happen again…” it stated.
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