Tragedy at the Medina County Fairgrounds Five people were killed
at the Medina County Fairgrounds when a Case 110 steam traction
engine exploded. Case 110 Steam Traction Engine Five people were
killed as the result of the explosion of a Case 110 steam
traction engine in Medina, Ohio on July 29. The engine was being
moved to the Medina County Fairgrounds, in preparation for the
Medina County Fair, which was scheduled to begin the following
day. The blast sprayed hot water and iron shrapnel as far as 100
yards away, according to the Associated Press, and has raised
one important question: How did this happen? While the actual
cause of the explosion is still being debated, two separate
reports indicate that, whatever the actual cause, the explosion
was not a fluke and could have been avoided. The first report,
released two weeks after the accident, was based on an
inspection conducted by Dean Jagger, Chief Boiler Inspector of
the State of Ohio. In his report, Jagger and his team of
inspectors blamed the incident