Police investigate death at Miami-Dade County Fair

'Mechanical error' leads to 23-year-old worker's death

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Police are investigating after a maintenance worker died at the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue told Local 10 News that they received a call about an entrapment at the fair. By the time rescuers arrived, the 23-year-old worker had already died.

Sky 10 was flying above the fair as police tape surrounded a ride called The Hurricane.

A yellow tarp could be seen underneath the floor panel of the ride.  

"He was crushed under the ride. That's all I know," a fair employee said.

Tony Diaz, the fair's general manager, said the accident happened during the daily inspection and maintenance period of the attraction.

The Hurricane, which is a new ride at the fair, was not in use at the time and had been closed to the public when the incident occurred.

"There was a mechanical error," Miami-Dade police spokeswoman Jennifer Capote said. "A malfunction occurred, causing the victim to be fatally injured on the scene."

It was not immediately known how the worker died.

The fair remained open during the investigation.

"Where it occurred is not in the path of any children or anybody," Capote said. "That area's been secluded."

Diaz said the worker was not employed by the fair.

"Our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to this individual's families," Diaz said.


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.