Girl killed in Ferris wheel fall at NJ boardwalk

WILDWOOD, N.J. (AP) — An 11-year-old girl on a school field trip died today after falling about 100 feet from a moving Ferris wheel at New Jersey's Wildwood boardwalk.

The girl fell about 12:30 p.m. from the amusement park ride on a day heavily attended by school children. She was taken 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 she fell about 100 feet.

The 156-foot-tall Ferris wheel is among rides at Morey's Mariner's Landing Pier. The newspaper said 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.