Girl in Critical Condition After Hair Caught in Carnival Ride

An 11-year year old girl is hospitalized after her hair got caught in a carnival ride at the Cinco de Mayo Festival in Omaha, Nebraska.
Jonathan Zhou
5/9/2016
Updated:
5/9/2016

An 11-year-year-old girl has been hospitalized after her hair got caught in a carnival ride at the Cinco de Mayo Festival in Omaha, Nebraska. 

Elizabeth Gilreath was on the “King’s Crown” spinning ride when her hair caught got stuck to the mechanics of the ride, which left her bleeding and on the floor. 

The girl was taken to the hospital with a head injury. 

“I just wanted to get to my daughter. I wanted to know she was okay and that she was taken care of well” Gilreath’s mother told ABC News. “I wouldn’t recommend any parent to put their child on a carnival ride.”

The carnival has apologized for the incident in a statement. 

“Thomas D. Thomas Shows values the safety and health of our guests above all else, and we are saddened by this accident,” the carnival said. 

Elizabeth remains in intensive care, but is expected to make a full recovery. 

“We are not seeing major injuries to her brain or her spine or elsewhere in her body,” said Dr. TJ Schenarts, chief of trauma surgery at the hospital. “We are pleased she is doing so well.”

Jonathan Zhou is a tech reporter who has written about drones, artificial intelligence, and space exploration.
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