Ohio State Fair: Teen’s family hires law firm; coroner releases preliminary findings

UPDATE @ 9:55 p.m.

The Franklin County Coroner on Friday released a preliminary autopsy report for Tyler Jarrell, the 18-year-old killed Wednesday after a ride malfunctioned on opening night of the Ohio State Fair.

Dr. Anahi Ortiz said blunt force injuries to the head, trunk and lower extremities are the preliminary results in the investigation into Jarrell’s death, our media partner 10TV.com WBNS in Columbus reported.

He was killed when the Fire Ball, a swinging and spinning ride, broke apart, killing Jarrell and injuring seven others. Jarrell was pronounced dead at the fairgrounds in Columbus.

EARLIER

The family of Tyler Jarrell, the 18-year-old man killed July 26 at the Ohio State Fair, said it has retained the law firm of Kitrick, Lewis & Harris to investigate the incident and handle the wrongful death case.

Jarrell was killed when the ride Fire Ball malfunctioned at the Ohio State Fair.

Jarrell had joined the U.S. Marine Corps just a week ago and was looking forward to serving his country, said his mother Amber Duffield in a release.

RELATED: Ohio State Fair: Some rides reopened Friday

“Everyone who knew Tyler is grief-stricken and in shock,” Duffield said. “We just need to know how and why this happened, and whether it could have been avoided. We hope our demand for real answers will save others from being hurt or killed because of bad or dangerous amusement park rides.”

Jarrell was a quartermaster with the Columbus Police Department Explorer Club, and also worked at McDonald’s. He was about to start his senior year at Franklin Heights High School.

Kitrick, Lewis & Harris has retained the professional services of Introtech to investigate and reconstruct the tragic incident and determine how and why it happened, according to the release.

The investigators will work with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Department of Agriculture, State of Ohio, City of Columbus, and any other agencies involved.

“Tyler was a good young man, with a bright future ahead of him,” said attorney Mark Kitrick. “This was a senseless, tragic incident that likely could have been avoided. Our only goal in filing a wrongful death suit is to obtain justice for Tyler.”