Louisiana State Fair Works to Prevent Repeat of 2011 Accident

Officials preparing for the annual State Fair of Louisiana in Shreveport have made changes to prevent amusement ride accidents like the one that injured a 4-year-old last year.

At the 2011 State Fair, Sheldon Lewis was critically injured when another child activated a ride. The Times of Shreveport reports that Lewis was trapped in a space between the ride and the floor for more than 20 minutes.

Among this year’s changes is a later weekday opening time of 3 p.m. for rides. Rides won’t be operating when schools and other groups take field trips with a limited number of adults to supervise large groups of children. The later start also gives ride operators more time to rest so they’re more alert when the rides are open.