Child Injured at Louisiana State Fair Released from Hospital

A 4-year-old boy injured on a ride at the State Fair of Louisiana has been released from the hospital.

Sheldon “SJ” Lewis, of Coushatta, was released Monday from LSU Hospital in Shreveport. LSU spokeswoman Meg Willett tells The Times that the child remains in serious condition but is stable.

The youngster was visiting the fair with a Head Start group Nov. 2 when he became trapped between a miniature car and the metal deck of the Demolition Derby ride. Another child flipped a switch while the ride operator was helping other youngsters get off the ride, causing it to start.

State Fire Marshal H. Butch Browning ruled that operator error caused the accident. He says the operator should have disabled the switch that turned it on before unloading children.