LEBANON, Ind. –– A 5-year-old is recovering after being run over by an amusement park ride on Monday at a Fourth of July Carnival put on by Poor Jack Amusements in central Indiana.

According to Lebanon Police Department Officer Aaron Carlson, witnesses at the scene said that 5-year-old Phoenix Foster fell out of the Clown-A-Round ride. Foster had not been buckled into the seat and fell out from the force of the ride taking off, Carlson said in his report.

Once Foster fell from the ride, witnesses told Carlson people began screaming to stop the ride. However, the screams were too late and the child had already been run over, leaving her “black from head to toe,” according to Carlson.

First responders examined Foster and she was brought to Riley Hospital for Children, for examination of her injuries. Authorities initially reported that Foster may have suffered a broken jaw.

Foster was treated and released from the emergency room Monday night, Riley staff said. 

Carlson said eyewitnesses reported that the ride operator was using her phone at the time of the accident.

Gary Bohlander, an owner and operator of the amusement ride provider company, Poor Jack, said their policy prohibits ride operators from using cellphone while attending rides. Bohlander was not present at the time of the incident, but he was told the ride operator said she wasn’t using her phone when Foster fell off the ride.

“The report I got is that she denied that she was on her phone,” Bohlander said, noting that she also gave a report to the LPD.

Bohlander said the ride was inspected on Tuesday morning by ride inspectors with the Indiana State Department of Homeland Security and was cleared for use on the final evening of the carnival.

He said the ride operator is on paid leave while Poor Jack investigates the incident. He said Tuesday that the ride would operate as normal that evening with a different operator for the final day of the carnival.

Bohlander said the incident was unfortunate, and that he had been trying to reach out to Foster’s father throughout the day on Tuesday.

“We don’t ever want to see this type of stuff, but unfortunately this stuff happens,” Bohlander said.

Doerflein writes for the Lebanon, Indiana Reporter. Jake Thompson contributed to this report.