Carnival ride accident kills girl

A 10-year-old girl died while her elder sister and five other children and teenagers were injured in a carnival ride accident in Marikina City on Christmas Day.

Police said the girl and the others were riding the Octopus, also known as Scramble, when one of its mechanical arms broke off, throwing off its riders several feet.

Grade four pupil Catherine Diane Picardal suffered broken ribs that pierced her lungs. She died while undergoing treatment at Amang Rodriguez Medical Center.

Her elder sister, Kimberly, 14, sustained hand and leg injuries. She was also taken to Amang Rodriguez and was later transferred to another hospital for more intensive care.

The five other victims — Dianalyn Reyes, 12; Robin Tamayo, 15; Rudy Tamayo, 13; Raymond Abagon, 17, and Ronald Abagon, 15 — also suffered various injuries. They were discharged after treatment at Amang Rodriguez.

Marikina Mayor Ma. Lourdes Fernando shut down all rides of mini-carnivals in the city pending a thorough safety inspection by city hall engineers.

Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., Marikina City police chief, said mechanical engineer Gregorio Picardal took his children to the carnival to enjoy the day.

But before going separated ways, Picardal warned his children not to take the Octopus ride.

Picardal said he was a few meters away from the Octopus when he heard a loud cracking sound at about 4:30 p.m. When he went over to investigate, he was shocked to learn that his two daughters were among the casualties.

Carnival employees rushed the injured to the hospital.

A police investigation showed that the ball joint of one the Octopus’ eight "tentacles" or metal arms, which held four two-seater baskets each, broke and catapulted its riders at least 10 feet.

It was not immediately determined if the machine lacked proper maintenance.

"According to the machine operator, the Octopus was already slowing down when one of its arms broke and crashed," Ramos said.

The mini-carnival’s operations had all the proper documentation from the city hall, Ramos said.

Its owner, Roy Atienza, has promised to shoulder the hospital and funeral expenses of the victims’ families but he remained at large, according to Ramos.

Police will file charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and multiple serious physical injuries against Atienza and three carnival employees who were involved in the ride’s operation.