One person is dead and seven others injured -- three of whom are in critical condition -- after the Fire Ball ride at the Ohio State Fair broke apart in mid-air Wednesday night, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.
The deceased is an 18-year-old male, according to fire department officials.
The Grant Medical Center in Columbus has admitted three patients, hospital spokesperson Mark Hopkins told ABC News. Two of the three patients are in fair and stable condition, while the third is in critical and stable condition. Hopkins said the hospital is not expecting any additional patients.
And Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center said it received three patients from the fair. At a press conference Wednesday night, the facility's Dr. David Evans said all three patients were in critical condition, one of whom was still in surgery at the time. Most of the injuries were orthopedic-related.
Evans said the patients ranged in age from late teens to 50s-60s.
The Ohio State Fair confirmed the incident on its Twitter account at 7:37 p.m., writing, "There has been a report of a ride incident. We are investigating and will report information as available."
At a press conference Wednesday night, Col. Paul Pride of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said a trooper at the fair called in a report of a ride malfunction at 7:24 p.m.
Columbus Fire Battalion Chief Steve Martin said people were trapped on the ride, ABC Columbus affiliate WSYX reported.
David Daniels, the director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, said at Wednesday night's press conference that he spoke with Gov. John Kasich after the incident. Kasich subsequently ordered the shutdown of all rides until there was a full review.
According to amusement ride operator Amusements of America, the Fire Ball "combines swinging and spinning action all in one ride! Since it's debut in 2002, the Fire Ball has become one of the most popular thrill rides on the AOA Midway. The Fire Ball swings riders 40' above the midway while spinning them at 13 revolutions per minute"
Daniels said the Department of Agriculture inspects rides every day, adding that 11 rides at the fair did not open on Wednesday because they were not inspected. He added that four rides will not be operating because they did not meet the requirements of a mechanical test.
Kasich, also at the press conference, said the Fire Ball had been inspected multiple times by a third-party inspector.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture's chief inspector of amusement ride safety, Mike Vartorella, said inspectors have been present at the fair since last Wednesday. The inspection for the Fire Ball would include evaluating connections and hydraulics. Vartorella said the Fire Ball had been inspected three to four times over the previous two days.
Gov. Kasich said he will be at the fair tomorrow, when it is slated to re-open.
Kasich previously said in a statement that he was “terribly saddened” by the incident. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to those grieving and injured," he said.
Wednesday marked the first day of the fair, which is scheduled to run through Aug. 6, according to the fair's website.