Child Seriously Injured in Horse Racing Pace Car Accident at Effingham County Fairgrounds

A 5-year-old child from Altamont, Illinois was seriously injured on Sunday at the Effingham County Fairgrounds when a horse racing pace car's extended gate struck the child in the grandstand. Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns stated that they received a call around 1:00 P.M. reporting an accident between a vehicle and a child.

Upon investigation, it was discovered that the incident involved the pace car used in the first horse race. Sheriff Kuhns explained, "One of the booms, one of the starting gates, didn't fold correctly or was still extended and struck a little five-year-old girl in the grandstand."

For those unfamiliar with what a horse racing pace car is, Sheriff Kuhns described it as having "two large wings on the back that...keep all of the horses in order" during races. However, once they start off and get into their pacing rhythm, these wings fold up along the side of the car.

The injured child was immediately taken to HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital by ambulance before being flown to St. Louis Children's Hospital for further treatment. The extent of her injuries is currently unknown.

There is uncertainty regarding exactly how this unfortunate incident occurred. There are many unanswered questions that need to be addressed before closing the case, and an investigation is underway to determine both how and why it happened, however it is not anticipated that criminal charges will be filed.

Ultimately, any potential charges will be determined by Aaron Jones, State Attorney for Effingham County.

Phillip Hartkey, President of Fair Board also shared his sentiments about this distressing incident stating that it has deeply impacted the close-knit community. In respect for the family involved, all harness racing events for the remainder of the fair were canceled by the fair board. However, the rest of the fair will continue as planned.

Effingham County Fairgrounds is known to be a place where families gather to enjoy various activities and entertainment during their annual fair. This unfortunate accident serves as a reminder that safety measures must always be prioritized to prevent such incidents from occurring in future events.

Legal Help

If you or a loved one was a victim in this or a similar accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

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