Girl's scalp ripped off in freak carnival ride accident

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Monday, May 9, 2016
VIDEO: Girl's scalp ripped off in freak carnival ride accident
Parents describe what happened to their 11-year-old daughter, when she was critically injured on a carnival ride in Nebraska.

OMAHA, NE (WPVI) -- Parents describe what happened to their 11-year-old daughter when she was critically injured on a carnival ride in Nebraska.

Her mother released a picture of Elizabeth Gilreath, who remains hospitalized.

The girl was captured on cell phone video riding the "Kings Crown" at a fair in Omaha.

It was spinning when her hair got caught, yanking out her scalp.

Her parents say losing her long, red hair is just the beginning of her problems.

Elizabeth's father, Timothy Gilreath, explains, "(The ride) went on for five to ten minutes, everybody told me, while it ripped and pulled my daughter around... They don't even know if the muscles will work and my daughter will be able to see again."

Surveillance video shows the ride operator running from the chaos, possibly to get help.

Then, a woman nearby rushed to the ride and physically stopped it.

Local and state officials are investigating.