Teenage Girl Killed on Bungee Thrill Ride
By Silvia Acevedo & Melissa McCrady
OSHKOSH - A teenage girl was killed Saturday after falling from a bungee cord harness ride at a festival.
Sixteen-year-old Elizabeth Mohl, or Liz as she's better known, was celebrating life at the Christian festival, "Lifest," when she tragically lost hers.
The state Department of Commerce has joined the investigation into the death an agency spokesman said Monday. Tony Hozeny said the department has jurisdiction because of its regulation of amusement rides in the state.
On Sunday, police said the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration was also investigating. But OSHA does not have any jurisdiction in the matter, said Scott Allen, a department spokesman.
"It's the worst thing that could've ever happened," said Kelsey Johnson, a friend of Liz's who was at the festival.
The Air Glory thrill ride hoists two to three people, strapped into bungee-cord harnesses, 45 feet in the air face down. The riders then pull a rip cord and fall or swing down on the bungee cords.
People were standing by watching, waiting for Liz's bungee cord to pull her up. Instead she kept falling until she hit the ground.
Witness Brian Childers of Kenosha was in line for the ride and saw the two people on the ride. When one pulled the rip cord, he said, he heard a snapping sound. One person fell and the other remained swinging. "(The first person) hit the ground and she was not moving at all," Childers said.
Other witnesses said the girl fell onto the bare ground, mere yards from protective mats.
Owen Raether was in line behind Liz. Suddenly, he said, he heard a snap and saw Liz plunge toward the ground.
"She just kept on going down. It kind of shocked me," Raether said.
Witnesses said that Liz was not moving after her fall. She died several hours later in surgery
Abby Hosmeister, 16, of Nekoosa had been on the ride twice and was waiting for her third ride when it happened.
"We did not hear anything snap -- I think we would have heard something if a rope snapped," she said. "(Mohl) fell at the exact minute that her friends pulled the cord."
Hosmeister, who was next in line and already had on a harness, said she saw Mohl give a digital camera to a friend before the ride started and then heard a shriek. In seconds, Mohl was lying motionless, face down on the ground.
"Everyone was shaking and crying," said Hosmeister, 16, of Nekoosa. "A 10-year-old boy was screaming."
Counselors were being made available Monday and Tuesday at Menasha High School for students seeking help in coping with the tragedy. Mohl would have been a junior at the school this fall, school district director of special services Marci Theri said.
Mohl was described by Theri as an excellent student who was active in the orchestra and jazz band.
Her friends say they still can't believe Mohl died so tragically.
One friend posted a message on Liz's Facebook.com page. He said "Liz kept falling...it was hard for me to hear it and I clinched my fists...none of us will ever forget her."
Liz went on the ride with a friend. Her friend was also hoisted 45 feet in the air when Liz suddenly fell.
A witness said her friend was stuck hanging, crying and screaming, while people ran to help Liz.
Mohl died of massive trauma due to head, chest and abdominal injuries, Winnebago County Coroner Barry Busby said Monday. She died during emergency surgery, he said.
Oshkosh Police Sgt. Steve Sagmeister said police were still interviewing people Monday about the incident.
Life Promotions organized the festival. Communications director Wes Halula told TODAY'S TMJ4 reporter Silvia Acevedo that police shut down the ride to investigate what happened. Fest organizers shut down the festival for two hours to pray for the victim.
Lifest is one of the largest Christian festivals in the country. The annual music event features rides and sports.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
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