Firefighters Help Unload Broken Down Conway AR Ferris Wheel

Nobody was injured when the Ferris wheel at Rogers Plaza malfunctioned Saturday.

Shortly before 7 p.m., passengers heard a loud pop and felt their gondolas sway before the machine was shut down and first responders were called. The cylinders of a Ferris wheel are held in place with a pivot pin at each end. Authorities on scene said the six pin on the Ferris wheel broke.

The Conway fire and police departments responded to assist in unloading the passengers, who were on the stopped machine for nearly an hour.

"They're not trapped; they're stuck," Fire Captain Rick Powell said on scene.

Initially, firefighters attempted to use the tall ladder to reach the passengers; however, when it became clear that wasn't the safest option, mechanics adjusted the Ferris wheel so that it could be operated slowly and allow the passengers to disembark.

The Persinger family of Conway — 5-year-old Colson, 7-year-old Liberty, 8-year-old Trinity, 18-year-old Olyvia and parents Victor and Janae — said they were relieved to be on solid ground again.

Victor, Janae and Colson were in the gondola closest to the six pin. During the ride, Janae took video of Colson as they neared the top.

"I have it on video," the shaken mother told the Log Cabin Democrat. "He was laughing and giggling. It was so cute then all of a sudden, it started popping and swaying."

Victor said he was "trying to be the strong one" through "the traumatic experience."

"It was crazy," he said. "It broke right by our heads."

Victor said his wife took pictures of the six pin.

"It had already been worked on once," he said. "You can see where it had been welded."

Olyvia, who was in the gondola with Liberty and Trinity, said she was "already terrified of heights" and that she got on the ride for her sisters.

"I was doing it for them," she said. "We were at the top when I heard a noise and people started screaming. We were like, 'whoa, what just happened?'"

Olyvia said she had to swallow her fear.

"I had the girls grab my hands and I told them, it will be OK."

She said the CFD did an awesome job calming them.

"The firefighter was very good to us," she said. "He was really good with the girls."

All the passengers were safely unloaded before 8 p.m.

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Visit Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Ark. at www.thecabin.net

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