Witnesses given counseling after man's fatal fall

The South Whidbey Island School District is offering free counseling for anyone who witnessed Saturday's fatal fall of a carnival-ride operator from a ride at the Island County Fair.

Island County sheriff's deputies have interviewed hundreds of fairgoers who saw Doug McKay, the 40-year-old owner of an amusement-ride company, drop about 40 feet from the "Super Loop 2" and land on an aluminum fence, said sheriff's spokeswoman Jan Smith. Passengers on the circular roller-coaster ride also witnessed the accident.

"You're in the car watching it, the people on the ground are watching it and there's nothing anyone can do," Smith said yesterday. Because of the large number of witnesses, fire officials converted a fairgrounds building into a crisis counseling center on Saturday and Sunday. Eight people received counseling on Saturday and 10 sought help on Sunday.

Harvey Bell, a state Department of Labor and Industries safety compliance officer, said McKay had heard a squeaking noise from the ride and decided to spray lubricant on the track while the roller coaster was in motion.

Bell said the front car struck McKay's arm and the Post Falls, Idaho, man was dragged into the air by his arm, then fell. Sheriff's deputies originally reported that McKay's long hair was caught in the ride.

Bell said it is dangerous to repair an amusement ride while it is in motion and that it's not a common practice for amusement-ride operators. Bell surveyed the accident but said that because McKay owned the company, Paradise Amusements, the department will not investigate.

"We have no jurisdiction over employers," Bell said. "Our jurisdiction centers around employee safety."

Officials at Paradise Amusements, which is co-owned by McKay's wife, did not return telephone calls yesterday. According to the company's Web site, Doug McKay took over the company after the retirement of his father, Robert McKay.

Smith said McKay's employees shut down all of the rides after Saturday's accident. All rides, except the Super Loop 2, were open Sunday for the final day of the fair.

South Whidbey Fire & Rescue Chief Don Smith returned to the fairgrounds yesterday morning and said flowers had been left around the Super Loop 2.

Marilyn Gabelein, Island County Fair Board chairwoman, said there are no plans to drop the fair's contract with Paradise Amusements. She said the contract expires in 2005.

"It was a terrible tragedy for our little county fair," Gabelein said.

Jennifer Sullivan: 425-783-0604 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com