4 Dead in County Fair Blast

M E D I N A, Ohio, July 30 -- Four people were killed and dozens injured when an antique steam engine exploded at an Ohio county fair Sunday evening, sending hot oil and shrapnel flying through the air.

One police officer, two steam-engine operators and a vendor setting up a booth near the display were killed in the blast, according to the Medina county sheriff's office.

At least 40 others were injured in the blast. Fair spokeswoman Allison Pitit said the injuries ranged from burns to lacerations caused by the debris. They were being brought to area hospitals for treatment.

Medina is about 30 miles southwest of Cleveland.

At Least One Child Burned Badly

"It was bad. Real bad," one unidentified witness said. "A bunch of little kids like 12, 12 little kids, were up in there. It was horrible... the worst thing I've ever seen in my life."

A child brought to Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron had burns over 100 percent of the body, The Associated Press reported. That child's condition is unknown.

The deceased have been identified as Alan Kimble, 46; Cliff Kovacic, 48; William Kovacic, 27; and Dennis Jungbluth, 58.

Turn-of-the-Century Relic Turns Deadly

The yellow-and-red steam engine was of the type used by farmers a century ago to power their equipment. But the beautiful relic turned deadly when it exploded from the inside, the force of the blast sending shrapnel hundreds of feet.

"Everything shook and everything jumped up," said eyewitness Adam Black. "You could hear shrapnel hitting the building and just pieces coming everywhere."

Black said he and other bystanders tried to put the fire out.

"We grabbed buckets and just started running over there with water," he said. "Hundreds of buckets."

Engine a Regular Exhibit at Fair

Fire chief Bill Herthneck said the engine was a regular exhibit at the fair.

"This is a piece of an old antique steam engine tractor that is routinely here and they were starting it up and running it, as they always do," he said.