Eight people were given jail terms over an amusement park ride accident in south China that killed six people and injured another 10 in June 2010, local authorities said Thursday.

The eight people received jail terms ranging from 18 months to five years after being convicted of violating safety codes that led to the deadly accident in Shenzhen, a boomtown neighboring Hong Kong, according to the ruling of the People's Court of Yantian District in Shenzhen.

An investigation found that a screw fracture on the Space Journey ride facility caused a cabin to become dislocated and fall to the ground as it was elevated and spinning at a high speed at the Overseas Chinese Town East Resort (OCT East) on June 29, 2010.

The court found that several safety code violations in the design, construction, installation and maintenance of the ride facilities led to the accident.

The ride simulates the conditions of a rocket launch. It elevates and spins 11 cabins holding four passengers each.

OCT East covers an area of nine square kilometers and is operated by OCT Enterprises Co., a state-owned company involved in real estate and hotel development, tourism and electronics manufacturing.