Family of Ohio State Fair victim pursues wrongful death lawsuit

Jessie Balmert

The Cincinnati Enquirer

Tyler Jarrell, 18, died at the Ohio State Fair Wednesday. His mother, Amber Duffield, celebrated his enlistment in the U.S. Marine Corps less than one week earlier.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The family of 18-year-old Tyler Jarrell, who was killed Wednesday after an Ohio State Fair ride malfunctioned, has retained attorneys to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Columbus-based Kitrick, Lewis & Harris will investigate what happened when the Fire Ball ride broke, killing Jarrell and injuring seven others. Among those injured was Jarrell's girlfriend, Keziah Lewis, who attends the University of Cincinnati. The law firm hired a company to reconstruct the accident.

“We just need to know how and why this happened, and whether it could have been avoided. We hope our demand for real answers will save others from being hurt or killed because of bad or dangerous amusement park rides," Jarrell's mother, Amber Duffield, said in a statement.

How often do accidents happen at amusement, water parks?

Meanwhile, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Department of Agriculture are looking into what went wrong. The ride passed inspections Wednesday, only to malfunction hours later.

"Everyone who knew Tyler is grief-stricken and in shock," his mother said.

Jarrell had enlisted in the Marines just five days before his death. He was a quartermaster with the Columbus Police Department's Explorer Club and worked at McDonald's while finishing high school.

Featured Weekly Ad