Camden Park sued over 2011 Spider ride incident

WAYNE - A Mingo County couple are suing Camden Park Incorporated for injuries their daughter suffered while riding the Spider ride.

On July 23, 2011, Jennifer Ooten and Rianna F. Ooten were at Camden Park and Rianna Ooten boarded the Camden Park Spider ride while Jennifer Ooten watched from a safe distance, according to a complaint filed July 23 in Wayne Circuit Court.

Jennifer Ooten and her husband, Ryan Ooten, claim Nathan Muncy, the ride operator, began accelerating the ride when one arm of the ride broke off from the spindle and struck the other arm of the ride, causing the bucket in which Rianna Ooten was riding to suddenly fall to the ground.

The Ootens claim as the bucket of the Spider ride lay sideways on the ground and began moving backward while Rianna Ooten and her cousin were still in it, until Muncy turned the power off to the ride.

Jennifer Ooten, who was standing near the Spider Ride at the time of the incident, heard and saw the crash and had a sensory observation of the injury to her daughter, according to the suit.

The Ootens claim after the incident, the Ceredo Police Department arrived on the scene and Cpl. A.J. Schaffer took statements from Camden Park employees and Schaffer determined the break-off point on the main spindle of the Spider Ride had failed due to an old crack in the spindle and a new crack in the spindle that corresponded with the Spider ride's arm that had broken off.

The defendant was negligent in its duty to exercise ordinary care to keep and maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition, according to the suit.

The Ootens claim as a result of Camden Park's breach of duty of care, Rianna Ooten was critically injured.

The Spider ride was closed in 2011 after the incident.

As a direct and proximate cause of the defendant's negligent act, Ryan Ooten suffered a loss of consortium for the injuries suffered by Rianna Ooten, according to the suit.

The Ootens are seeking compensatory damages. They are being represented by Troy N. Giatras of the Giatras Law Firm PLLC.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Darrell Pratt.

Wayne Circuit Court case number: 13-C-149