Seattle Waterfront— After celebrating six years of working behind the control panel of the iconic Seattle Great Wheel tonight, 42-year-old operator Mary Jo Flaherty’s ability to resist the allure of the candy-apple red “TURBO” button allegedly gave out.

“The button is clearly labelled forbidden and is never supposed to be used,” said Seattle Great Wheel Manager Wesley O’Hara as the aromas of Wings Over Washington and Ivar’s Seafood wafted down the waterfront. “We have no idea what pushed her to this point.”

Witnesses say an hour before the end of Flaherty’s shift, a 22-year-old male tourist about ten feet up from the ground could be heard screaming, “This ride is going too slow! Make it go faster!”

Seconds later, a wildly laughing Flaherty reportedly smashed the glass protecting the forbidden button, slammed it hard, and shrieked, “Enjoy the ride, sweetie!”

The Great Wheel accelerated as it reached an astonishing speed of 4,000 RPM before breaking from the support beams. The runaway wheel launched forward, skidded across Elliott Bay, tripped over Bainbridge Island, then turned right onto Highway 3 North all the way to Port Townsend, where a congregation of older folkies greeted the wheel and told it what Berkeley was like in the seventies.

Flaherty is currently awaiting trial and faces serving 10 to 15 years for Grand Wheel Auto.