12-year-old Boy Injured In Branson Roller Coaster Accident

Two state inspectors are trying to determine how a 12-year-old boy was badly injured in an accident at a roller coaster attraction in the popular Missouri tourist town of Branson.

The accident happened around 7:30 p.m. Sunday at The Branson Coaster. City spokeswoman Melody Pettit says the child was “trapped on the ride with what appeared to be serious injuries."

A Facebook posting from the Branson Professional Firefighters Local 152 said the boy was trapped beneath the coaster. Reportedly, it took one hour, 15 minutes to rescue him.

The child was flown by helicopter to Mercy hospital in Springfield. He reportedly nearly had his legs severed in the mishap.

According to his grandmother Shelandra Ford, her grandson Aalondo Perry of Collierville, Tenn., is totally blind in his right eye and is 15 percent blind in his left eye.

Ford said that Aalondo thought the ride had ended and stood up and began to exit the ride. That's when the coaster started back up, and Aalondo fell off, getting entrapped beneath the Branson Coaster.

Ford said doctors are concerned they might not be able to save his legs. His arm was also crushed in the accident.

The Missouri Division of Fire Safety is investigating.