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Since 2006 Robert Briggs has been running Modern Midways, but before that he worked for his father Frank Briggs owner of Midwest Midways, based at the same address in Steger, Ill<\/p>\nSince 2006 Robert Briggs has been running Modern Midways, but before that he worked for his father Frank Briggs owner of Midwest Midways, based at the same address in Steger, Ill<\/p>\n
The Lehigh Acres Spring Festival Committee has been during business with Midwest Midways or Modern Midways for nearly 30 years<\/p>\n
But Between 2005 and 2006 Midwest Midways closed and equipment was sold to Modern Midways.<\/p>\n
Midwest Midways according Florida records they had three accidents 2002, 2003 and 2005.<\/p>\n
The 2003 accident was it the Lehigh Acres Spring Festival \u2013 News clipping — (Friday, March 29, 2003) – At the Lehigh Spring Fest in Lehigh Acres, Florida, a Tornado ride collapsed, injuring 4 children. The Tornado features eight spinning 4-person gondolas which rotate about a central column. Witnesses say that one of the gondolas clipped the ground, causing the central column to break off its axis.<\/p>\n
The children’s injuries were “seat belt-type” injuries, and none appeared to be serious.<\/p>\n
The Tornado is owned and operated by Midwest Midways.<\/p>\n
The same records show that Midwest Midways received 7 warnings and or fines between 2002 and 2006.<\/p>\n
In 2005 Midwest Midways had a major issue\u2026\u2026\u2026.(USA Today<\/a>) A 9-year-old boy died after falling more than 25 feet from the gondola of a rotating carnival ride during a Fourth of July festival at a town park.<\/p>\n “Rider error, operator error, equipment failure \u2014 we don’t know at this point,” Highland Police Chief Peter Hojnicki said. “His death was caused by unknown reasons.”<\/p>\n Dakota Stevenson of Gary Ind. was pronounced dead at a Munster hospital shortly after falling Friday night from the Wind Shear, a ride in which passengers are strapped into a rotating gondola with over-the-shoulder restraints.<\/p>\n All of the carnival rides remained shut down Saturday while the festival continued.<\/p>\n The Wind Shear ride was last inspected June 23 and appeared to be safe at the time of the inspection, said Pam Bright, spokeswoman for the Indiana Division of Fire and Building Safety, which oversees amusement ride safety. She said investigators were sent to Highland on Saturday.<\/p>\n The ride is owned and operated by Midwest Midways, based in Steger, Ill., and was made in Italy.<\/p>\n “We’re truly sorry and feel so bad that a child died. But other than that, we don’t know what the cause is,” Midwest Midways owner Frank Briggs told The Associated Press.<\/p>\n In 2013 now Modern Midways had an accident at the Lehigh Acres Spring Festival 3 minors were injured on the \u201cRing of Fire\u201d. (Read Story<\/a>) According the Modern Midways Attorney the operator was not found at fault but still paid a fine of $1500.00 for operating a ride with mechanical defect.<\/p>\n In 2014 Modern Midways \u201cTap Out\u201d ride began throwing pieces of metal off the ride. (Read Story<\/a>)<\/p>\n