Grieving Parents Call For Better Ferris Wheel Safety Restraints, Supervision

PLEASANTVILLE, N.J. (CBS) -- The grieving parents of a little girl who plunged to her death while riding a giant ferris wheel in Wildwood nearly two weeks ago, are calling for better safety restraints on such rides and more supervision.

Byron and Twanda Jones of Pleasantville, N.J., are trying to cope with the loss of their 11-year-old daughter Abiah who fell some 150 feet from the Giant Wheel at Morey's Piers on June 3rd. (see related stories)

Byron Jones is angered at the speculation in a preliminary report by state investigators released Monday suggesting his daughter - who was riding in the gondola-style car alone - might have been kneeling or standing on the seat and may have leaned too far out.

He says, so far, no witnesses have been found who could even support that conclusion and video from the pier only captured the girl in mid-fall.

Jones says it's time for the state to act.

Robin Rieger reports...

"You have to have a seat belt in a car so if you're 150-something feet in the air, there should be some type of safety, some type of restraint. It doesn't have to be bars or anything. But it can be a seat belt or some type of safety harness."

Attorney Larry Bendesky, who is representing the couple, says he has investigators looking at the accident as well as similar accidents involving such ferris wheels around the world. He says the couple isn't ready to file a suit just yet, but hasn't ruled out any legal option.

Reported by Mark Abrams, KYW Newsradio