Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What can you sue for in a personal injury case?”
Two men that authorities say were involved in the recent ride malfunction at the North Carolina State Fair that sent five people to the hospital with serious injuries were formally indicted this past week. Wake County, NC’s District Attorney Colon Willoughby announced that the ride’s operator and the son of the owners of the ride were both charged in connection with the terrible October accident.
The original incident occurred on the night of October 24th when one of the Vortex rides at the State Fair malfunctioned. Authorities say the ride restarted itself as riders were disembarking. This sent several people flying through the air, falling as much as 30 feet, including a family of three.
The operator of the Vortex, Tim Tutterrow, has been accused of tampering with the ride and now faces three counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon. Investigators say they believe Tutterrow tampered with the Vortex, specifically, that he overrode important safety features that kept the ride from turning on while it was stopped. Officials say they believe Tutterrow did so to keep the ride in business, a crucial shortcut that nearly cost several people their lives.
In addition to Tutterrow, Joshua Macaroni has been charged with identical crimes. Macaroni is the son of the couple that owns the Vortex. Macaroni’s employer, Family Attractions, has issued a statement saying that Macaroni was not involved in the accident and was never even in the state at the time of the incident. As a result, Family Attractions says it does not understand the basis for the charges filed against Macaroni. Wake County’s DA claims that they have good reason to charge Macaroni and will lay out their case later.
As the criminal case against those responsible for the terrible accident progresses, the victims continue to recover from their injuries. The family that was injured in the fall includes a mother, father and their 14-year-old son. Officials say that the mother and son were only recently released from the hospital while the father, Anthony Gorham, remains in the hospital, now nearly two months after the initial incident. Family friends say that the father continues to receive treatment for severe brain, skull, neck and spinal injuries, with doctors comparing the injuries seen by victims to those of survivors of high-speed car accidents.
As the victims continue their lengthy recovery, a fundraiser was recently announced to help raise money to pay the family’s mounting hospital bills. Adding insult to injury, this family that was so terribly injured, through no fault of their own, must now contend with expensive medical bills. The hope is that those responsible are held financially, as well as criminally accountable.
If you, or someone you know, have any questions regarding personal injury claims, please feel free to contact the experienced personal injury attorneys and lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina at Arnold & Smith, PLLC for a free consultation. Call at 704-370-2828.
About the Author:
Matthew Arnold is a Managing Member with Arnold & Smith, PLLC where he focuses his practice on Personal Injury, Family Law and Business Litigation. Mr. Arnold began his career handling insurance defense litigation for several major insurance companies. He also went on to handle business litigation cases and high value mortgage fraud cases, primarily in Superior Court.
Mr. Arnold grew up in Charlotte, graduating from Providence Senior High School and continued his education at Belmont Abbey College on a basketball scholarship. After graduating cum laude he attended law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a full academic scholarship. In his spare time, Mr. Arnold enjoys golfing and spending time on the North Carolina Coast with his wife and three young children: two daughters and one son.
Source:
“NC State Fair ride operator, owner formally indicted in accident,” by Ed Crump, published at WTVD.com.
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