Fair staff responsible for spectator safety at county fair events, like tractor-pulls

Centre Co., PA (WJAC) — In the wake of Friday’s tragic accident at the Union County West End Fair, which claimed the life of a 33-year-old Somerset County woman, we looked into safety regulations for events at fairs like tractor pulls.

6 News has been asking questions and learned that it’s not clear who oversees spectator safety at these types of events.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture conducts safety inspections of rides and attractions at fairs, but they say that events like the tractor pull don’t fall under their jurisdiction.

This leaves it up to the fairs to make sure the events are safe.

We reached out to several fairs on Monday to ask about what they are doing to protect spectators at events like tractor-pulls.

The Centre County Grange Fair, which starts on Thursday, says they are scheduled to have tractor-pulling and other competitions almost every night.

Chad Packer is one of the people who works to set these events up and he says that a “tech team” inspects the tractors and that spectators are kept at least 100 feet away from the track.

“We do everything in our power to be as safe as we can be. There are certain things you can’t check, parts that are inside. We don’t disassemble these machines.”

Packer says that freak accidents can happen anywhere and at any time.

“There’s a risk in everything you do in life I mean you got to go out and enjoy yourself and do fun things and that’s the risk you take when you put your shoes on when you get up in the morning.”

6 News also reached out to several tractor pulling associations for a comment on Friday’s incident.

The pro pulling league says that they send their condolences to the family.

The statement also said that “it’s too early to comment and they are cooperating with authorities in the investigation.”

ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfm66qvtJmqpqelanGbrXNrKeem6SevK9506uYnKyfp3qxwculZKudl6q5osDIqKWsZaOlsqTAwK2mq6tdlrCktcOepa1lpKeuqLHDsmShp6KjsrN51KegqKZdnL%2BiusaeZKyskZuzbr7InZys