Multiple levels of inspections for Erie County Fair rides

Fair ride crews have less than 24-hours to set up rides at the Erie County Fair, but making sure these rides are safe is a top priority.

"Nobody wants to have anybody injured," Strates Shows General Manager George Weston said.

Strates Shows operates all the rides from the Ferris wheel to the starship. Each day prior and during the fair, the rides are inspected by New York State and a Florida-based independent company.

Recent accidents on rides at fairs and theme parks across the country are worrying some people.

On Monday, three girls fell from a Ferris wheel at a county fair in Tennessee. One of the girls suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Just two years ago, a 12-year-old girl fell from the sky flyer ride at the Erie County Fair, injuring her arm.

Ayesha Patterson worries about the rides. She used to take her 8-year-old son to the Erie County Fair for the rides, but now she tries to get him to play more games instead.

"I put him more towards the dart games, winning prizes, and stuff like that," Patterson said.

"Ride safety is our number one concern... But it's also a responsibility of the people who come down out here and ride the rides that they follow the instructions written and verbally," Weston said.

The Erie County Fair starts Wednesday, August 10th. It runs until August 21st.