RYE, N.Y., Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Investigators say there was a gap in the floor of a water ride at a New York amusement park where a 7-year-old Norwalk, Conn., boy died.
The state Labor Department also found two of the four operators were away from Ye Olde Mill at Rye Playland at the time of the accident, the White Plains Journal reports.
Jon-Kely Cassara's body was found wedged under conveyor belts. The coroner's preliminary finding is that he was killed by a blow to the head, and investigators believe he fell or got out of the boat he was riding in and then hit his head.
The death was the first ever on the 76-year-old ride, which dates back to the park's earliest days. Because of its age, there are no safety manuals or standards for the ride.
The boy was riding by himself. His mother alerted operators when he failed to reappear at the ride's end.
Investigators have not yet determined whether Playland was negligent or whether the floor gap and missing operators contributed to the accident.
