Girl, 11, killed in fall from Ferris wheel

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WILDWOOD, N.J., June 4 (UPI) -- An 11-year-old girl on a school trip to a Jersey Shore resort was killed Friday when she fell from a Ferris wheel, park operators said.

Abiah Jones of Pleasantville was one of thousands of students participating in the annual Education Extravaganza sponsored by Morey's, which operates three amusement piers in Wildwood, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. She was alone in a car on the 176-foot-high Giant Wheel when she fell.

Investigators said they had found no sign of mechanical failure. A spokeswoman for the state Department of Community Affairs said the wheel passed inspection March 17.

Morey's closed all its operations for the rest of the day. Will Morey, chief executive officer of the company, offered the condolences of his family and employees to Abiah's family.

Tim Samson, a spokesman for the company, said employees check all rides several times during the day.

Abiah was a student at PleasanTech Academy Charter School.