Carnival Ride Death Leads to Murder Indictments

Six months after a 15-year-old girl fell to her death from a carnival ride, prosecutors have taken the apparently unprecedented step of indicting nine amusement company executives, employees and inspectors on charges of murder.

A defense lawyer and industry officials argued Wednesday that Leslie Lane’s death was an accident.

A grand jury on Tuesday indicted nine people of Yuma, Ariz.-based B&B; Amusements and Florida-based inspection company Bob Gill & Associates on charges of “knowingly and intentionally” causing Leslie’s death on the Himalaya ride March 19 at the Austin-Travis County Livestock Show and Rodeo.

John Yeager, representing ride owners Robert Dale Merten Sr., his wife, Shara Merten, and their son Robert Merten II, called the indictment a mistake that “not even a first-year law student would be fooled by.”

B&B; Amusements provided rides at the Orange County Fair for 10 years, but fair officials selected a new company in 1995, citing safety concerns as one of the reasons for the change. Eight fair-goers were injured on one of the company’s rides in 1993 and one more the following year.

Bob Johnson of the Outdoor Amusement Business Assn. also said the Austin indictments were the first of their kind for the industry.

The Himalaya is a ride with about 19 cars that travel in a circle in undulating movements amid scenery painted to look like mountains. A lap-bar secures riders into the seat.

The indictments charge that the ride was operated too fast, that the restraining lap-bar was fastened by a pin that was too small and that the lap-bar’s latch was inadequate.

The indictments also allege the ride had not been adequately inspected and that it continued to be operated after those responsible had been notified it was unsafe.

If convicted, those indicted could get five to 99 years in prison.