Girl Injured In Thrill Ride Fall Leaves Madison Hospital
12-Year-Old Transferred To Hospital In Florida
Updated: 6:39 pm CDT September 2, 2010
MADISON, Wis. -- A 12-year-old girl who fell about 100 feet to the ground in a Wisconsin Dells amusement park ride last month left American Family Children's Hospital in Madison on Wednesday and was transferred to a hospital closer to her Florida home.
READ: State Report Blames Operator Error For Amusement Park Injury
Teagan Marti, of Parkland, Fla., had been treated at the hospital since she fell on July 30 from the Terminal Velocity ride at the Extreme World amusement park in Lake Delton. She hit the ground in the free-fall ride after nets and air bags that were supposed to catch riders weren't raised.Doctors have said she suffered numerous injuries to her brain, spine, liver and other organs and might be paralyzed. The girl has had several surgeries already, including pelvic and back surgery, WISC-TV reported.Hospital officials said she was in fair condition on Wednesday when she flew by air ambulance to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Jackson Memorial is a teaching hospital for the University of Miami's School of Medicine.The girl will stay in the hospital's intensive care unit, and her family says she is stable, but has a long road ahead.Her family spoke about the ordeal in Miami and expressed relief to be back in Florida. The girl's parents, Alex and Julie Marti, said they are grateful for the care given to their daughter, as well as thoughts, prayers and gifts sent by people from all over the country. They said that they were trying to celebrate the girl's 13th birthday this weekend.
"She was smiling," said Stuart Grossman, the family's attorney. "You can tell she was happy to be home. She's going to have her 13th birthday on Saturday and you know, it's a blessing to bring her back.""She's doing a lot better than we all expected. It was a horrible scene. It was a long 30 days, and we're just very happy to be home," said Alex Marti.The Marti family is expected to speak with the media on Thursday to discuss their plans for Teagan's treatment and a possible lawsuit being filed.Chuck Carnell, the amusement park employee operating the ride at the time of the accident, has been charged with felony reckless injury in the incident. The felony first-degree reckless injury charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 25 years in prison.
Previous Stories:
- August 23, 2010: Police: Amusement Ride Worker Hit Self After Girl Fell
- August 21, 2010: Injured Girl's Mother Talks About Amusement Park Accident, Aftermath
- August 20, 2010: Report: Company Made Repairs To Terminal Velocity Ride
- August 19, 2010: Amusement Park Worker Charged After Girl's Injury
- August 9, 2010: Injured Girl's Family Thanks Community For Support
- August 8, 2010: Girl Still In Critical Condition After 100-Foot Fall
- August 7, 2010: Police Complete Investigation Into Thrill Ride Accident
- August 4, 2010: Father Says Girl Injured On Thrill Ride Is Awake
- August 3, 2010: Police Investigate Operator Error In Thrill Ride Fall
- August 1, 2010: Girl Remains In Critical Condition After Thrill Ride Fall
- July 31, 2010: 12-Year-Old Florida Girl In Critical Condition After Thrill Ride Fall
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Copyright 2010 by Channel 3000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.




