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Disaster in Emden: ride dismantled
Photo: Lars Klemmer / dpa
Lost glasses are said to have caused the fatal accident on a ride at the Matjestagen in Emden.
The police do not assume a technical defect or negligent behavior.
"As things currently stand, we can rule that out," said a police spokesman.
The fact that the 18-year-old employee was hit by the ride was to be rated as a "tragic accident".
So far, no criminal investigations have been carried out against anyone, the spokesman said.
The young woman got between the ground and the ride on Sunday night when it was in motion.
According to the police, a passenger had previously reported losing his glasses on a previous trip.
The 18-year-old apparently wanted to help and pick up the glasses.
According to the findings, she misjudged the speed of the ride and was hit in the upper body, said the police spokesman.
The employee was injured so badly that she had to be resuscitated at the scene of the accident.
She died a little later in a clinic.
The ride is a horizontal row of seats that swings to the right and left like a swing boat and lifts off the ground.
During the night, the trade inspectorate examined the ride, but found no defects, said the police spokesman.
There was therefore no order to stop operations.
However, the ride was dismantled during the night.
The police now want to collect all the findings and testimonies and present them to the public prosecutor's office for evaluation.
The matjes festival came to an end on Sunday.
ptz/dpa