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PNE ride closed for checks

One of the rides at the Pacific National Exhibition has been closed for additional inspections after a similar ride flew apart, killing one person and injuring seven others in Columbus, Ohio.

The Beast was shut down voluntarily on Thursday.

"We are very confident in the safety of all our rides. The safety of our guests is our No. 1 priority, so we have made the decision to do supplemental inspections of The Beast today,” a PNE spokesperson told CTV.

The similar Fire Ball spins in circles while spinning on a giant pendulum. Video posted to Twitter Wednesday shows the ride smashing apart and passengers flying off at the Ohio State Fair.

“Our hearts are heavy for the families of those involved in last night's tragic accident,” the fair said on its Facebook page. “We have shut down all rides until the state has inspected each and every ride again and deemed them to be safe.”

Rides at the PNE are checked twice daily and are subject to two annual inspections by a third-party contractor.

– with files from CTV Vancouver



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