Ride operator cops fine after grandmother injured in fall

Court documents say the grandmother fractured her left femur and right fibula, and shattered her pelvis in three places when she fell. Photo / Thinkstock

The operator of a fairground ride has been convicted and fined after a grandmother fell off and broke both legs.

Details of the case emerged at Christchurch District Court yesterday.

The court was told a 65-year-old library assistant attended the Canterbury A&P Show, in Christchurch, with her daughter and two grandchildren in November 2013.

The grandmother paid $6 to ride The Sizzler with her 8-year-old grandson.

After the ride, the attendants lifted all of the safety bars so the riders could get off. Many people jumped from their seats to the tarsealed area below, including the grandson, a summary of facts states.

The grandmother decided it was too high to jump and tried to climb down backwards, but fell from a step on to the asphalt and suffered serious injuries.

Court documents say she fractured her left femur and right fibula, and shattered her pelvis in three places.

She was rushed to hospital, where she spent the next three months.

The summary of facts says she has not been able to return to work as a library assistant and faces ongoing rehabilitation.

The ride's operator was Russell Gordon Harris, a 77-year-old Christchurch pensioner, operating as Joy Rides.

He was charged by WorkSafe New Zealand with failing to notify an inspector and the local authority within 48 hours of the serious accident and failing to take all practicable steps to ensure that any hazards of the ride did not harm its users.

Judge Gary MacAskill yesterday cleared Harris of the claim that he failed to protect the rider users from hazards.

The judge said the allegation that Harris should have taken steps to address the step hazard was "the product of hindsight" and "unreasonable".

Harris earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to notify authorities of the accident within 48 hours.

Crown prosecutor Kathy Bell said immediate notification of such accidents was imperative so that they could be properly investigated. "When notified, this ride was no longer in situ," she said.

Judge MacAskill convicted Harris and fined him $750. The judge feared ride operators like Harris "don't know the importance" of prompt reporting. More education was needed.