Wichita ? The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating an amusement park Ferris wheel from which a teenage girl fell earlier this month, suffering serious injuries.

The 55-year-old ride at the Joyland park in Wichita was manufactured by the Eli Bridge Co., which estimates about 1,400 of its Ferris wheels are in operation.

Elizabeth Schmitz, 13, of Mount Hope, fell more than 30 feet on April 16 from the Ferris wheel. Her father, Bill Schmitz, said last week that when Elizabeth reached for a restraint bar, the seat tipped forward and she fell out.

Elizabeth suffered injuries to her head, face, arms and legs, including broken bones.

Kansas does not regulate amusement parks and no state or local agencies are investigating the accident.

Duane DeBruyne, a spokesman for the product safety commission, said federal investigators are looking at police reports, witness statements and other records.

DeBruyne said that while the commission does not have jurisdiction over amusement parks, it does inspect rides, and can also inspect traveling carnivals that cross state lines.

He said that if the agency finds problems with the ride, it could order changes to similar Ferris wheels.

Jacob Graybill, a lawyer for Joyland, provided a private inspection report that found no problems with the Ferris wheel.

The inspector from Seminole, Okla., found the Joyland ride in generally good condition. The report says that bolts, seat hangers and the lap bar latching pieces on the seat the girl was riding in were working.

The inspector found that the girl fell forward, hit a fluorescent light tube on the ride and fell onto two other Ferris wheel seats before landing on the ground.

“This could be caused by a significant forward change in the center of gravity,” the report said. “This could occur from the patrons ‘rocking’ the seat or attempting to stand up.”

Signs warn riders from rocking in the seats.

The safety commission said Ferris wheels account for about 12 percent of amusement park injuries. At least three people have died in Ferris wheel accidents since 1991.