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CNN Live At Daybreak

Explosion at Ohio Fair Kills Four

Aired July 30, 2001 - 07:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: A deadly fairgrounds explosion in Ohio. It happened yesterday evening in Medina, about 25 miles west of Akron.

An antique steam-driven tractor was being moved when it exploded.

Reporter Patty Lee of CNN affiliate WJW has more now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATTY LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Chaos overwhelmed the Medina County Fairgrounds as rescue workers rushed to save dozens of people seriously injured after an antique steam engine exploded.

SHERIFF NEIL HASSINGER, MEDINA COUNTY, OHIO: Basically, what happened was a steam engine that was coming onto the fairgrounds exploded. And it hit the pedestrians and so forth. There were some children struck also.

LEE (on camera): Witnesses say there was no warning before the explosion that took place just as dozens of people had gathered to watch the antique steam engine pull in.

UNIDENTIFIED WITNESS: It was just all like the end of the world. It was just a loud bang, you know. Just a loud bang. And you looked up, you know, and everything was black.

LEE (voice over): A triage was quickly set up, with victims treated on the scene -- so many injured, helicopters had to be brought in from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

CHIEF BILL HERTHNECK, MEDINA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT: There was no fire afterwards. The injuries were all immediate and in great number.

LEE: Hot shrapnel from the explosion shot out 100 feet in every direction, while hot oil and steam blew out about 50 feet, severely burning anyone in its path.

Authorities say the antique steam engine is a perennial attraction at the fair, and they can't imagine what went wrong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: That was Patty Lee of CNN affiliate WJW. Now, authorities in Medina have a news conference scheduled for the half hour, and we are going to bring it to you live when it happens.

And by the way, if you think you have heard of Medina before, you have. Last year, about 30 people at the fairgrounds became ill with e-coli infections.

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