An inspector for South Carolina’s Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) has admitted to investigators that he falsified the annual inspection report for an amusement park train ride that overturned Saturday, killing 6 year old Benjamin Easley and injuring two dozen others. Donnie Carrigan, who has since resigned from LLR, said he issued a clean inspection report despite being unable to actually test the train due to a dead battery.
Despite the falsified inspection, perhaps the blame for this tragic accident really lies with the driver of the train, Matthew Conrad. Conrad told police that he was going too fast and that “he knew better than to drive the train that fast.” He also admitted that he drove faster on his second lap and that he “opened it up” on the final lap.