Three people, including a child, fell an estimated 15 feet from a Ferris wheel ride at a festival on Thursday.
An injured 59-year-old woman had to be airlifted to a hospital. She is in critical but stable condition.
Firefighters said the whole tub tipped over before they fell.
The accident occurred at Port Townsend's annual Rhododendron Festival carnival.
The Ferris wheel is operated by Funtastic, based in Portland.
"It's not what we do. It's not what we're in business for. This is a terrible, terrible thing," said Ronald Burback, president of Funtastic.
The company has been in business since the 1950S - and hosts annual safety seminars attended by amusement ride operators from around the country.