Parents of Girl in Ferris Wheel Accident File Lawsuit in Philadelphia
Byron and Twanda Jones, the parents of Abiah Jones, the 11-year-old girl Philadelphia area girl who died after falling from a Ferris wheel in June, are now suing the amusement park. Abiah’s parents filed their suit against Morey’s Piers of Wildwood in the Common Pleas Court last Thursday.
Abiah, once a Pleasantville NJ resident was attending a class trip to Morey’s Piers during one of the park’s annual education fair along with her entire fifth grade class, teachers, and multiple chaperones. Abiah was allowed by park staff as well as school staff to ride in one of the Giant wheel’s gondolas alone. A report by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs speculates that Abiah might have fallen out of her Ferris wheel gondola after kneeling or standing on her set and then leaning out too far. Abiah was pronounced dead due to severe injuries shortly after the fall from the 160 foot wheel.
Abiah’s parents and their attorney will be making the case that Morey’s Piers was “negligent for placing the fifth grader in the Ferris wheel gondola alone and for failing to provide passenger safety restraints…” They are also noting that winds at the park, near the Atlantic Ocean “were high on June 3, the day of the accident.” Since the gondolas can swing 90 degrees or more, Abiah’s parents will argue that the ride should not have been operating that day.
The Jones family has chosen to file their suit in Philadelphia since Morey’s both does business and markets in the area. According to reports, spokespeople at Morey’s Pier have declined to comment on the lawsuit surrounding the accident.
