Theme park ride collapses, at least 18 hurt

BREAKING NEWS

updated 2:08 p.m. ET July 15, 2008

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - A theme park ride collapsed Tuesday in a city in western Sweden, injuring at least 18 people, officials said.

Two people were seriously hurt when the Rainbow ride collapsed at the Liseberg theme park in Goteborg, SOS Alarm rescue service spokeswoman Monica Grandin said.

She said the numbers were still not definitive, but initial information that 40 people had been injured was incorrect.

Around 25 ambulances had been sent to the scene, she said. The ride was full when the accident occurred, Grandin said.

"Of course it is children who go on these rides, but I can't say how many" of the injured were children, she said.

The Liseberg manager on duty, Peter Andersson, said it appeared like the accident was caused by a malfunctioned ball bearing.

"As far as I know it is a ball bearing that has slipped out of its holding," he said.

Andersson said the attraction had been through a security checkup in the spring when no faults were discovered.

The Rainbow is a spinning arm with a seating compartment on one end.

Liseberg is a popular tourist destination in Sweden and the biggest fun fair park in the Nordic region, with more than 30 different rides.

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