Manila: One was killed, nine others injured in a caterpillar coaster ride in a small carnival in northern suburban Bulacan, a local paper said.
Neal Armstrong Rafols, 41, was thrown out of the caterpillar coaster ride due to a lose screw under his seat, at 9.45pm Wednesday night, in a small carnival at McArthur Highway and San Pablo Street, Karuhatan village, Senior Supt. Wilben Mayor, Valenzuela police chief, told the Inquirer.
A flying metal strip hit Rafols in the neck and nearly decapitated him, said Mayor, adding that passengers panicked and jumped off from their seats.
Rafols live-in partner Melissa Bella, 25, and two other children, Ryrsa Abella Villacruses, five, and Rhian Vilacruses, three, were in the same ill-fated seat. The critically injured were brought to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Centre.
Some teenagers, identified as Dino Parmis, 13; Ruben Pagal, 14; Remberto Gilly, 16; Ronnel Larosa, 17; and Erwin Rosario, 17, sustained minor injuries and were rushed to Valenzuela General Hospital.
“Those liable for the accident would be charged as soon as possible,” said Mayor.
But the carnival’s manager and machine operator went missing after the incident.
Initial reports said the facility has no permit to operate.
