Slanta Monica Pier’s ferris wheel spun out of control and fell into the sea Sunday. Remarkably, only two were injured.
By BOSSMAN FURYCOW Daily Planet Slave
In an unprecedented chain of events, the Slanta Monica ferris wheel spun off its axle and rolled down the pier into the ocean on Sunday, injuring two.
The solar powered Ferris wheel was apparently over fueled by unusually strong ultraviolet rays over the weekend.
“This is a tragedy. All the more reason for electric cars. Electric cars are very cutting edge.” — — MIKEY I’MDOINGFINE Mayor of Slanta Monica
Witnesses watched in shock as the giant wheel rolled in slow motion to the end of the pier, where its forward motion took it splashing down in a movie-like fashion, only to stay half submerged under water.
In a prepared statement, officials said that the “greenhouse” effect increased the level of ultraviolet rays taken in by the solar panels to dangerous levels. Because the ferris wheel is 100 percent powered by solar energy, the engine throttle responded to the excess energy level fueled by the increased ultraviolet rays and spun the wheel out of control.
“This is a tragedy,” said mayor Mikey I’mdoingfine. “All the more reason for electric cars. Electric cars are very cutting edge.”
Officials also mentioned that they could have “never predicted the impact of excess ultraviolet rays on the system.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 1, 2002. Read the original PDF.