AUBURN - A Sun Journal reporter suffered a fractured back Thursday during a preview ride inside an inflatable ball at Lost Valley Ski Resort.

Statehouse reporter Rebekah Metzler was rolling down a hill inside the car-sized plastic sphere known as "the Zorb" when it bounced off a hay-encased post, went airborne and landed hard several seconds later.

Metzler estimated the ball sailed 8 feet into the air before coming down.

She drove back to the newspaper office and was taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston where she was admitted Thursday night.

Metzler was inside the Zorb along with Sun Journal photographer Lincoln Benedict as part of a media preview of the ride.

Hours after Metzler's 1 p.m. ride, it was still unclear what went wrong.

"I wouldn't want this incident to become a black cloud over the Zorb," Metzler said from the hospital Thursday night. "I think if things are done correctly, it's safe."

The ride features a large, inflatable sphere inside which riders are strapped and then rolled down a hill. The Zorb is opening at Lost Valley this weekend with the announcement: "Take the wildest ride in your life down over our ski trails!"

Metzler said she had researched the Zorb in preparation for her ride and indications were that there was not a big risk of injury. Her guess: The operation of it on Thursday may have been more relaxed because it was not yet open to the public.

"That's my layman's point of view," she said. "I think if the concern level is there, it's going to be pretty safe."

Metzler said it did not appear that the Zorb handlers paid particular attention to how precisely the orb was inflated before she was sent down the hill.

"I think they'd be more vigilant if they were doing this for the public," she said. "I don't think they were doing all the things they needed to be doing to make it safe."

Representatives from Zorb New England could not be reached Thursday night at their headquarters in Danville, N.H. The Zorb was invented in New Zealand more than a decade ago and has recently begun generating more interest in the United States.

Diane Moreau, co-owner of Lost Valley, learned Thursday night that the injury to Metzler was more serious than Moreau had initially been told. She began an investigation into the incident to determine what had happened.

"We want to make sure this is handled correctly," Moreau said. "We sincerely regret that this happened. I hope she's going to be OK."

Moreau said crews at Lost Valley were pondering the possibility of additional safety measures before the Zorb is introduced to the area this weekend. One would involve measures to prevent significant bounces, Moreau said.

When Metzler and Benedict got into the Zorb Thursday afternoon, their arms and legs were strapped, as is customary for Zorb riders. Video of the downhill ride shows the pair picking up speed in the clear plastic ball as they descended the hill.

Roughly halfway down, the Zorb struck a short post surrounded by hay, flew into the air and landed hard.

"Oh, that was not good," a spectator can be heard commenting off camera.

Moreau said the post is designed to keep the sphere from going off course.

Metzler was expected to remain at the hospital at least overnight and be fitted with a back brace. At the Sun Journal Thursday night, colleagues were monitoring her condition.

"All of us at the Sun Journal are very concerned about Rebekah's injuries, and we pray she makes a swift and complete recovery," said Executive Editor Rex Rhoades. "Rebekah is our state government reporter and, in the short time she has been with us, we have all been amazed by her courage, intelligence and tenacity."

Rhoades said his staff was reminded that reporters face dangers, whether they are covering breaking news or working on feature stories.

"Our reporters and photographers often respond to fires, accidents and police situations. Sometimes they experience life from the public's point of view and express their experiences in the paper," he said. "Her injuries are a sobering reminder to us all that there are risks associated with that endeavor."