Four Killed in Blast at Ohio County Fair

A steam engine exploded at a county fair in Ohio, U.S. Sunday, killing four people and injuring dozens when it blasted shrapnel and hot oil across the fairgrounds.

The engine was being moved into place for an outdoor exhibit about antique trains and tractors when it exploded at about 6:30 p.m.

Two of the men killed were close to the engine, and the third man was found 30 feet away. A fourth person died later at a hospital.

Shrapnel was found in a parking lot about 100 yards away.

Betsy Mikalacki, spokeswoman for Medina General Hospital, said 18 people had been admitted for injuries in the explosion at the Medina County Fair, about 25 miles southwest of Cleveland. Other victims were being taken by helicopter to other hospitals.

A nursing supervisor at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron said a child being brought to the hospital had burns over ''100%'' of the child's body. She said two law enforcement officials were also being brought to the burn unit with serious injuries.

The fair was only open for set-up and horse races Sunday, and was not scheduled to officially begin until Monday.






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