Child hurt at Coney Island’s Deno’s Wonder Wheel ride

August 15, 2013 Associated Press

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A 5-year-old boy suffered lacerations to his left leg and head after falling off a kiddie ride at an amusement park in Brooklyn, police said Wednesday.

Police are investigating how the boy, who is expected to survive, was able to get out of the Sea Serpent Roller Coaster at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park in Coney Island.

The boy, whose name was not released, was taken to Bellevue Hospital where officials said he was in stable condition Wednesday evening.

The boy may have crawled under the safety bar before ride stopped, officials said.

Park co-owner Dennis Vourderis tells WABC-TV the boy met the 36-inch height requirement for the Sea Serpent. He said there hasn’t been an accident at the ride in its 15-year history.

“Our prayers for a speedy recovery are with the young man and his family,” Vourderis said.

The Department of Buildings is investigating.

“Our inspectors have conducted an initial inspection on the ride involved in the incident and found no defects with the equipment,” Buildings Department spokeswoman Kelly Magee said.

Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park has about 17 kiddie rides and four adult rides. The 150-foot-high Wonder Wheel is an iconic part of Coney Island, and has been in operation since 1920.

Last month, a Dallas woman died after falling 75 feet when she was ejected from her third-row seat while riding the 14-story Texas Giant roller coaster at the Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington