The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff Reports

Posted: Monday, January 01, 2018 12:30 PM

NATION: 18-Year Old Killed On Fireball Ride At Ohio State Fair Was Marine Recruit

The Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Charleston, W.V. confirmed the 18-year-old killed on the Fireball ride at the Ohio State Fair Wednesday evening was a U.S. Marine recruit, CBS affiliate WTVF reports.

A statement from Public Affairs Chief Sgt. Caitlin Bring read as follows:

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to Poolee Tyler Jarrell's family and all those affected by his loss. The Marines are greatly saddened by this tragedy. We are truly proud to have known him as one of the brave few wiling to step up and serve his country in the U.S. Marine Corps."

Jarrell was scheduled to begin his basic training at Parris Island in South Carolina next summer. He reportedly wished to become a combat engineer.

Jarrell enlisted only five days before he died.

In addition to Jarrell, of Columbus, Ohio, seven other people were injured: Tamika Dunlap, 36, of Reynoldsburg; Russell Franks, 42, of Columbus; Keziah Lewis, 19, of Columbus; Jacob Andrews, 22, of Pataskala; Jennifer Lambert, 18, of Columbus; Abdihakim Hussein, 19, of Columbus; and a 14-year-old male victim whose name will not be released.


OSU Medical Center received three patients from the incident. Dr. David Evans, who works at the center, said, "multiple passengers were ejected at high speed" from the ride, which traveled at least 20 to 30 feet before crashing "at a significant distance from the ride."