State Fair worker electrocuted

A worker helping to set up a ride for the State Fair was electrocuted Monday afternoon.

Roger Thompson, age 43 of Brooksville. Florida, was electrocuted while performing work on The Rainbow ride at the State Fair.  Emergency medical personnel performed CPR on Thompson who was transported to Palmetto Health Richland where he was pronounced dead.

State Fair manager Gary Goodman said that Thompson had more than 20 years experience with North American Midway Entertainment and was one of their chief operators. Several area agencies are investigating the accident, but an exact cause is not yet known.

It was noted that this was the second death of a North American Midway employee in two years. In 2008, a worker was killed when he was hit by a ride in a restricted area.