Girl falls from Jersey Shore Ferris wheel, dies

WILDWOOD, N.J. - A young girl died Friday after falling about 100 feet from a moving Ferris wheel at New Jersey's Wildwood boardwalk.

The 11-year-old fell about 12:30 p.m. and was brought by helicopter to a nearby hospital, where she died, Capt. Lynn Frane of the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office said. The girl's name and hometown were not released. Authorities initially said she was 17.

The girl fell from the upper half of the ride while it was in motion, Wildwood Police Capt. Robert Regalbuto told The Press of Atlantic City. Regalbuto estimated the height was about 100 feet.

The Ferris wheel is among rides at Morey's Mariner's Landing Pier. The newspaper reported the popular amusement park was heavily attended by children during the pier's annual Education Extravaganza — a day the park is open and marketed for school students and teachers.

Morey's said in a statement the cause was being investigated. Both Morey's and police said the problem did not appear to be mechanical. Police took photographs of various passenger carts on the Ferris wheel, part of which was covered in white sheets, and were looking for witnesses to the fall.

Meanwhile, the Ferris wheel and a few others were closed, while the rest of the sprawling park remained open.

Morey said in the statement, "The Morey staff and family offer our thoughts and prayers to the family."