A swing ride at Connecticut festival lost power yesterday, sending riders falling to the ground and injuring 18 people, mostly children. Officials say 12 kids and one adult were sent to hospitals, with fiver others deciding at the scene not to seek medical treatment.

Witnesses on the scene say the moment the ride — which simply has seats that appear to have little or no constraints —stopped suddenly was a scary one.

“We didn’t know what happened,” one onlooker told NBC New York. “It was so frightening to see kids screaming, flying off the ride.”

Some kids reportedly had broken bones, while people standing nearby rushed to get them off the swings.

“People were running to get their children off the ride and I got a little boy off the swing,” said another witness. “He had a deep contusion on his leg and his bone was hanging out.”

The rest of the rides were shut down after the accident but opened later in the day after an inspection, said the event’s organizers.

“We are cooperating fully with the investigating authorities,” the group said. “Our first and only concern is for the well-being of those involved and their families.”

Safety regulations for traveling carnivals vary from state to state, but in Connecticut all rides must be inspected on an annual basis.

Connecticut Carnival Ride Fails, Injuring 18, Mostly Children [NBC New York]

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