SHREWSBURY, Mass. (AP) – One person was killed and two others were injured Sunday afternoon in a carnival ride accident at a church fair.

Shrewsbury police said the spinning-type carnival ride came apart at about 2 p.m. near St. Mary’s Church and parochial school on Summer Street. Witnesses said they saw one of the men being thrown from the ride and crashing to the ground.

Police Chief Wayne Sampson said two adult men, who were riding in the same car when the accident happened, were taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center, one injured critically and one seriously. He said one of the men died at the hospital and the other is in serious condition.

All three victims were residents of the Glavin Regional Center in Shrewsbury, a state-run facility for the mentally retarded, said Dick Powers, a spokesman for the state Department of Mental Retardation.

“It’s a terrible tragedy, our condolences go out to the families and the friends of the victims,” he said. “We will begin grief counseling immediately.”

Sampson would not identify or characterize the victims or name the carnival ride operators. He said a third person sustained minor injuries and was not transported to the hospital.

WCVB-TV identified the owner of the ride as Jaro Amusements of Carlisle. A man who answered the company’s cell phone but refused to identify himself confirmed that the ride was owned by Jaro, but said the company would have no comment until the state investigation is complete.

A ride operator was taken to the police station and was giving a statement to police, Sampson said. He said it had not been determined if the car in which the men were riding was broken.

“I ask that you help all of us here at St. Mary’s with your prayers,” said the Rev. Paul O’Connell, the parish pastor. He would not answer questions about the incident.

The Diocese of Worcester, in a statement, said the parish and school community were “deeply grieved by the tragic accident.” While school will be held Monday as scheduled, the parish will hold a session for parents with a counseling professional on Monday night, and a family counseling session on Tuesday night.

Shayan Daneshmand, 12, of Shrewsbury, said he had just gotten off the Ferris wheel and was headed for the ride, called the “Sizzler,” when he saw an adult male victim fall out.

“The guy just hit the ground. He actually fell off and his head hit the ground really hard,” Daneshmand said. “I think the ride was still in motion.”

“It was really just a nightmare, a lot of children crying, mothers crying, more blood than I’ve ever seen,” said Kathleen Madaus, 44, of Shrewsbury.

“I saw him about a foot off the ground and land on his face,” said her daughter, Elizabeth Madaus, 11. “There were like 5 year olds who had to see that and I feel bad for them.”

The ride has three rotating arms, each carrying four rotating sets of two-seat cars in the design of classic 1950s automobiles. The ride is about three feet off the ground and parishioners said it does not lift into the air.

One of the cars was visibly damaged. Pieces of wreckage, in the same color as the damaged seat, could be seen on the ground.

Sampson said the state Department of Public Safety and the Worcester district attorney’s office are investigating the accident.

“It was a terrible tragedy,” said Lynda Lopriore, 52, of Shrewsbury, who saw the injured being treated. She said she and her father were at the fair, the St. Mary’s Family Festival, which has been held at the church for years.