Ferris wheel victims are all from the same family

It came as a surprise.  Mikhail, the 7-year-old injured in the Ferris wheel accident at the annual Rhododendron Festival, showed up to Chimacum Creek Elementary school hours later.

"The little boy is a student in your district? Chimacum Schools Superintendent was asked.

"Yes," said Rick Thompson. "He's a first grader."

Thompson stood outside district headquarters.

"And he's back today?" he was asked.

"He's back at school today," said Thompson. "He is a little shaken up, according to the principal. And we had staff there.  We had a counselor there.  The students were very warm and welcoming.  And his mom was able to make it to the school today."

Thompson confirmed his mom is Crystal Groth, the 47-year-old victim who was also injured.  She is a longtime substitute teacher at Chimacum Creek and a devoted school volunteer.

"But she came by to get some support and to see the staff," Thompson said. "We're a small district and everybody knows each other. I did see early this morning, on the e-mail, some efforts to gather some food and support for the family, to give them support."

What happened to them is very much on the minds of those who showed up for the festival today.

"We'll go take a look at it and see what's happening," said David Winspear of Port Townsend. "But I don't think we'll jump on the rides."

"Any of them?" he was asked.

"I don't think so," he said. "No."

"It's not going to affect my day," said 13-year-old Jasmine Hansen of Port Townsend.

"You're still going to go in?" she was asked.

"I'm still going to go in," she said. "We're just waiting for our parents."

Sue Swartwood, the 59-year-old woman who was injured, is also the boy's mother. She was the most badly hurt. But a spokeswoman for Harborview Medical Center says her condition is rapidly improving.

KIRO 7 tried to reach out to them to get their side of the story but never heard back.

Cox Media Group