Monday, October 25, 2010

Hayride turns dangerous at Village of Terror ...Loose Trailer


What started as a fun day at the Village of Terror turned into a frightening evening for people on a hayride that went hay-wire, rolling backwards down a hill and crashing into a carnival ride.

Correction:

The Village of Terror originally told WEAU 13 News the hayride crashed into the TIlt O Whirl ride. It actually crashed into a different ride next to it, a ferris-wheel-type ride with cages for people to sit in. The Village of Terror orgainzers apologize for the misinformation.

Original story:

What started as a fun day at the Village of Terror in Chippewa Falls turned into a frightening evening for people on a hayride that went hay-wire, rolling backwards down a hill and crashing into a carnival ride.

“I had my eyes shut the whole time because I thought I don’t want to see myself die, because I thought that we were going to,” says Amanda Weaver. “We were going so fast it was crazy.”

13 –year-old Weaver and her sister Mary say they've never been so scared as they were yesterday, when a hayride wagon at the Village of Terror came unhitched and went backwards down this hill, and into this ride.

“I had my eyes open the whole time and I thought the big ride was going to crash down on top of all of us,” says Mary Weaver.

“I got smashed like this in between (some poles) and that’s how my rib got bruised,” says Amanda.

Amanda went to the hospital, but says she's doing better. The Village of Terror organizers say they're not going to have hayrides anymore because of the terrain on the festival grounds.

“The hayride won’t be happening unless we can make sure it's 150 percent safe,” says spokesperson Julie Pangallo. “It's probably better left to apple orchards where they have flat fields.”

The staff say they apologize to anyone who got hurt, and they're working to make the festival safer.

“We’re very sorry for the scare. We're obviously here to scare people, but not like that,” says Pangallo.

The Weavers say there's no hard feelings and they'd like to return to the Village of Terror to see the rest of the show.

The Village of Terror says it tested the tractor and wagon for the hayrides, but never tried it with a full load before yesterday.

The Village of Terror staff also wants people to make sure they're respectful of the performers. Pangallo says yesterday some of the zombie characters were hit and had rocks thrown at them by kids and teens.



Comments:


Posted by: Amanda Location: chippewa falls on Oct 20, 2010 at 04:30 PM
Dave- the pin was found severed in half. Too much weight on the wagon and VERY small tractor.
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"54172068"
Posted by: Dave Location: Bloomer on Oct 20, 2010 at 07:42 AM

'Amanda' Stated she was on the hayride and the pin unhitched. I have been driving tractor & towing implements & machinery for over 30 years. When the hitch pin goes in, the safety clip is installed. ALWAYS!! This is fundamental tractor safety.
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"54100453"
Posted by: Buckers on Oct 19, 2010 at 09:42 AM

I was also on the hayride and the management was very concerned about us. As for the village, it was a lot of fun and brought my grandkids 2 nights for the free rides. As for hiring a child molester, how would the people know this. Well worth the money.
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"54094231"
Posted by: Halloween Fun on Oct 19, 2010 at 08:30 AM

I went to Valleyfair (aka Valleyscare) for their Halloween fun, it was the first time I've been there for Halloween. It was phenomenal! Granted it is more expensive than $19.00, but there weren't many people, most rides were open, and they really go all out. No one got hurt that I heard of!
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"54069333"
Posted by: concerned Location: altoona on Oct 18, 2010 at 11:19 PM

This place should be shut down. Major safty issues not only with the equipment but with the people they hire. Whatever happened to background checks?
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"54056083"
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 18, 2010 at 06:17 PM

I'm starting to wonder about this place. They hired that sexual predator DJ guy without a care. Doesn't sound like a very professional endeavor.
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"54053249"
Posted by: concerned parent Location: eau claire on Oct 18, 2010 at 05:16 PM

How can carny rides, haywagon rides, haunted houses, be run without being to code? Drug pipes for sale? Now I hear a registered sex offender is selling tickets there. Obviously this company only cares about money and not the welfare and safety of our children. Very disapointed!
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"54051879"
Posted by: Lucie Location: Eau Claire, WI on Oct 18, 2010 at 04:49 PM

I wish people would stop overreacting. What would we do in this little hick town if we had an actual disaster happen? There is rarely anything to do in the Chippewa Valley, and with all of the exagerated complaints, they will probably not bring the Village back next year. I was there Friday and Saturday nights with groups of friends (ages 10-50) and it was amazing and worth every penny.
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"54049116"
Posted by: Anon Location: CF on Oct 18, 2010 at 04:03 PM

Wow - Now we find out that they are hiring sexual molesters to sell tickets. Shut this place down now !!!
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"54045968"
Posted by: anonymous Location: eau claire on Oct 18, 2010 at 03:18 PM

group - If you're looking for a "family oriented" event, then why are you taking your daughter to a halloween event called Village of Terrors of all things?
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"54023779"
Posted by: Joe Location: Eau Claire on Oct 18, 2010 at 09:52 AM

Save your money people.. waste of time and run by unsafe people.
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"54005703"
Posted by: group Location: chippewa falls on Oct 18, 2010 at 12:13 AM

I want you all to know that I took my daughter there friday night... it sucked. I took my daughter on a ride and the cable broke. It gave us a good jolt. To pay $15 is a RIP OFF... and then to pay another $4 to do the maze... come on...there was only 2 haunted houses...no hayride...the rides were all breaking...we will not return there.. times are tough so they should at least make it worth the $19!!! one other thing that turned me off was that one of the stands is selling crack pipes or whatever u call them,.... that is not real family oriented if u ask me!! VERY DISAPPOINTED!!!
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"54001537"
Posted by: Emme on Oct 17, 2010 at 09:45 PM

'By the way, don't throw rocks at the monsters"... lol
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"53989702"
Posted by: Beth Location: Cadott on Oct 17, 2010 at 04:42 PM

I love how at the end of this report the operators of the Village of Terror try to change the subject and say.."oh yeah...by the way, quit throwing rocks at the staff" Really??? Someone could have been seriously hurt...I really don't think that comment applies here.
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"53986332"
Posted by: Amanda Location: chippewa falls on Oct 17, 2010 at 03:26 PM

I WAS ON THE RIDE. im amanda and no i was not there to get my rib cage bruised. not even on the outside but its on the inside. and the pin DID come unhitched. we saw it and stuff. this story is correct., but my friend lily was with me to.
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Posted by: mary Location: eau claire on Oct 17, 2010 at 08:14 AM
To musky hunter... yes, I am assuming that the hitch pin would be most likely to fail, and clip in the pin.. and safety chains. Otherwise, it would be the drawbar or truck hitch (which is attached with pin) or the wagon tongue coming unbolted. I have been hauling loads with tractors for more than 30 years. With farming, "Safety First" is a must for our lives and livelihood. I did and do read articles, and think about them before I'd jump the gun and make a comment or criticism.
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"53948782"
Posted by: Anon Location: Menomonie on Oct 16, 2010 at 08:32 PM

We attended the village of terror last night, I do believe there are ALOT of safety concerns. The maze has very uneven ground and the fencing is very sharp and narrow. I hit my head and my husband ripped his sweatshirt on a nail that was in the fencing....it is very dark and dangerous especially with the uneven ground!! It is a fun place to go but they really do mean...ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!
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"53945488"
Posted by: janice Location: chippewa co. on Oct 16, 2010 at 06:53 PM

By the time this fiasco is done, there will be plenty of terror to go around. Imagine the nightmares these children will have. Money talks!
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"53941403"
Posted by: Musky Hunter Location: Tuscobia on Oct 16, 2010 at 04:35 PM

I honestly believe that the majority of posters, post comments withhout even reading the story.
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"53941289"
Posted by: Musky Hunter Location: Tuscobia on Oct 16, 2010 at 04:33 PM

Mary, you must have read a different story than I did. I read nothing that mentioned the lack of a hitch pin, or are you speculating? There a several scenarios that could have went wrong, EVEN with a hitch pin in place.
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"53938561"
Posted by: deb Location: Eau Claire on Oct 16, 2010 at 03:10 PM

what about safety chains? or a trailer break? i'm required to have those just to pull my unloaded boat down the street!
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"53923893"
Posted by: Linda Location: Chippewa on Oct 16, 2010 at 08:51 AM

I attended the Village of Terror and I thought it was very entertaining and well put together. Accidents happen, thankfully no one was hurt. Lesson learned..
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"53923232"
Posted by: CFMom Location: CF on Oct 16, 2010 at 08:38 AM

There was a teenager last night that fell through the flooring in one of the spook houses. Sounds like there are plenty of safety concerns there!
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"53917504"
Posted by: Ray Location: Rice Lake on Oct 16, 2010 at 05:51 AM

It "IS" called the Village of "Terror" isn't it? You're there to be "scared", so it sounds like everyone on the ride got what they wanted, a scare.
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"53901423"
Posted by: mary Location: eau claire on Oct 15, 2010 at 06:39 PM

Do they know nothing of a clip for a hitch pin???? Anyone worthy of pulling any load - much less a load of people - should know that as a VERY BASIC safety measure. For crying out loud!!
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