2 stuck aboard Miami fair ride rescued after nearly an hour

2 rescued after hour on stalled Miami fair ride

MIAMI — Two women dangled 50 feet sideways above the ground aboard a stalled fair ride but came down unharmed about an hour later Tuesday, laughing it off and eager to get in line for their next thrill.

“It all of a sudden stopped,” said stranded rider 18-year-old Shankia Tinsley. “I just think, immediately, ‘Oh great, we’re stuck.’”

The Space Roller came to a halt at about 1:45 p.m. with Tinsley and Megan Dewey, both of Miami, aboard. Workers scrambled to determine what went wrong, then ultimately dialed 911 about nine minutes later.

Miami-Dade Fire crews came to the rescue but realized their ladder was not long enough.

“We couldn’t reach them,” said Paul Smith, a Fire Rescue division chief.

While stuck high in the air, Dewey worried about being late to work. Tinsley said she was laughing.

While fire trucks with longer ladders were sent out, workers ultimately used the Space Roller’s hydraulic system to lower the ride. Tinsley and Dewey stepped off.

“No injuries. No distress,” Smith said. “No nothing.”

Tony Diaz, general manager of North American Midway, which operates the Space Roller, said the exact cause of the disruption hadn’t been determined. He said the ride is 12 years old and wouldn’t reopen until officials pinpoint the problem.

“People are safe, absolutely,” he said.

Both riders appeared unfazed and fairgoers continued to swirl overhead on a variety of attractions. Tinsley said she was simply getting impatient because she was ready to get on the next ride. Dewey said she wasn’t quite ready to ride the Space Roller again, but eager for a different thrill.

“Maybe in a few minutes or so I’ll go on another ride,” she said.