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3-year-old falls off Pennsylvania roller coaster

By Shawn Price

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- A 3-year-old boy fell off a Pittsburgh area rollercoaster Thursday, officials said.

The boy fell from the Rollo Coaster ride at the Idlewild and SoakZone amusement park and was conscious and alert after suffering head and chest injuries before being transported via helicopter to a local hospital, officials said. No other information about the boy's injuries was released.

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The Rollo Coaster is a 78-year-old wooden ride that is 40 feet high at the highest point and moves riders along at 10 to 25 mph. The boy fell somewhere in the middle of the ride.

Riders must be at least 48 inches tall, or 36 inches tall if they are riding with an adult. There is no seat belt.

The park is open, but the Rollo Coaster will remain closed until Ligonier police and Westmoreland County detectives complete their investigation.

Idlewild spokesman Jeff Croushore said rides are inspected daily. A Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture spokesman said the Rollo Coaster was most recently inspected by a certified private inspector on Aug. 6. The ride passed the inspection.

The incident occurred the same week as the 10-year-old son of a Kansas state lawmaker was killed on what is considered the world's tallest water slide and three girls fell from a ferris wheel bucket in Tennessee.

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