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Deadly Explosion

3 Dead, Dozens Injured in County Fair Blast

The Associated Press

M E D I N A, Ohio, July 29 — Three people were killed and at least 40 others injured in an explosion today at the Medina County Fair, according to several broadcast reports.

Police confirmed there was an explosion at the fair about 25 miles southwest of Cleveland, but declined to release details about injuries or deaths.

Television stations in Cleveland said one person was killed and at least a dozen were injured.

A woman working in the emergency room at Medina General Hospital said about 40 people were being brought in for treatment. Other victims were being taken by helicopter to other area hospitals, she said.

A nursing supervisor at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron said a child being brought to the hospital had burns over "100 percent" of the child's body. She said two law enforcement officials were also being brought to the burn unit with serious injuries.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 2001

Answers

MEDINA, Ohio (CNN) -- An antique steam engine exploded Sunday at a fair, killing at least three people instantly and injuring at least 35 others, authorities said. Some of the victims were children.

Authorities said the antique steam engine tractor exploded after being started up, sending shrapnel, hot oil and steam out in every direction.

"There's evidence of hot oil being pushed out of this thing probably 50 feet away, maybe 75 feet away in big volumes so anybody who was just walking by could have been very seriously burned and we think that's where most of these victims came from," said Fire Chief Bill Herthneck.

An official with the Medina County Fair said the explosion happened about 6:45 p.m.

Patty Lee, a reporter with CNN affiliate WJW, said the explosion happened without warning. The engine has been a big draw at the fair for years.

Medina is 25 miles west of Akron and 25 miles southwest of Cleveland.

Sunday was the first day of the six-day fair at the Medina County Fairgrounds.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 2001

The FOX version:

Four Killed, Dozens Injured in Explosion at County Fair in Ohio

MEDINA, Ohio — A steam engine exploded at a county fair Sunday, killing four people and injuring dozens when it blasted shrapnel and hot oil across the fairgrounds.

The steam engine was being moved into place for an outdoor exhibit when it exploded, Medina County Sheriff Neil Hassinger said.

Shrapnel was found in a parking lot about 100 yards away, said fire Chief Bill Herthneck.

Betsy Mikalacki, spokeswoman for Medina General Hospital, said 18 people had been admitted for injuries in the explosion at the Medina County Fair, about 25 miles southwest of Cleveland. Other victims were being taken by helicopter to other hospitals.

A nursing supervisor at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron said a child being brought to the hospital had burns over "100 percent" of the child's body. She said two law enforcement officials were also being brought to the burn unit with serious injuries.

The fair opened Sunday for horse racing, but most exhibits were scheduled to open Monday. Medina County Fair president Dave Bertram said the fair would go on as scheduled.

"It's a tragedy. Our sympathies go out to the people. My emotions right now are going crazy."

-- Anonymous, July 29, 2001

Menno, SD has a Power Show every fall that features dozens of steam-powered engines, tractors, threshers, etc. They have one behemoth on permanent display that's the size of a locomotive that attracts a huge crowd when they fire it up.

Methinks I'll be avoiding *that* demonstration this year.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 2001

That is RIGHT in my neighborhood...we are waiting to see if our friend was one of them hurt...he has a steam engine he was taking to the fair. we haven't heard from the family yet.

in another thread...Salem Ohio where they found the mastadon bones...I GREW UP THERE!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, July 29, 2001

...Salem Ohio where they found the mastadon bones...I GREW UP THERE!!!!!!

No relation, I presume...

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2001

btw SAR, I seem to recall someone offering to get tickets to a fair for you as it was 'on the way' of the person running errands and planning to stop by to visit you.

You declined, I think due to other obligations or something.

Was that the fair the tickets were to be for?

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2001

No, Barefoot. Those were for the Ohio State Fair, about three hours south of Medina. SAR doesn't like the August humidity in our part of the state, and the opening promises to be wretched wilt and kill day, but I'll probably be helping out friends bring in their horses because many hands do make light work, and when it's that hot, a crew of six can make the difference between a wretched fair and an acceptable one.

What happened in Medina has the potential to happen anywhere, but it usually doesn't because mechanical wizards maintain those machines and they don't want anything to happen to "their babies." The latest word I heard on the Medina explosion was that both relief values were sticking, which smacks of foul play to me. It'll be interesting to hear the final report.

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2001