Police: Wis. ride worker hit self after girl fell
By TODD RICHMOND, Associated Press Writer 43 mins ago
LAKE DELTON, Wis. An amusement park ride operator hit himself in the head with his fists once he realized a young girl had fallen about 100 feet from the ride without a safety net, according to police reports released Monday.
Teagan Marti, 12, of Parkland, Fla., fell from the Terminal Velocity ride just outside Wisconsin Dells on July 30. She survived, but doctors have said she could be paralyzed.
The ride's divemaster, Chuck Carnell, 33, has been charged with one count of first-degree-reckless injury, a felony punishable by up 25 years in prison and $100,000 in fines.
Carnell told investigators that he "blanked out" and never saw the "all-clear" signal before releasing Teagan, according to the criminal complaint.
According to reports released Monday, other riders told police that when Carnell realized the child had fallen, he hit himself in the head, then got on his radio and said he had just killed her and should go to jail. He also asked to have his pastor come to the amusement park.
Carnell's attorney didn't immediately return a message for comment.