Parents Of 14-Year-Old Who Fell To His Death From Theme Park Ride Retain Legal Counsel

The parents of the 14-year-old boy who fell to his death from a freefall ride at Orlando’s ICON Park have retained legal counsel. The attorneys are now seeking out people who witnessed the incident. 

Tyre Sampson was on vacation with a friend’s family when he died Thursday night after falling from the ride. The tragic event is currently under investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s department. Investigators are working to determine whether what happened was intentional or an accident. 

CNN reports that the teen’s family has separately hired Ben Crump and Bob Hilliard. The two are asking anyone who was on the ride with Sampson or witnessed the incident to contact them.

“This family is shocked and heartbroken at the loss of their son,” Crump, who was hired by Sampson’s father, Yarnell Sampson, said in a statement. “This young man was the kind of son every parent hopes for — an honor roll student, an aspiring athlete, and a kind-hearted person who cared about others. Needless to say, his family is absolutely devastated.”

NEWS ALERT: @AttorneyCrump and Bob Hilliard have been retained to represent the family of Tyre Sampson, the 14 year old who fell to his death from the drop tower ride at Florida’s ICON Park. pic.twitter.com/q8uGdy3ExM

— Ben Crump Law, PLLC (@BenCrumpLaw) March 26, 2022

Hilliard, hired by the boy’s mother, Nekia Dodd, added, “Families have a right to expect these national theme parks, making millions of dollars, will keep their children safe and will put that safety above all else.”

The FreeFall ride, which opened at the park in December, takes riders 430 feet in the air before dropping them at speeds reaching 75 miles per hour. The ride has remained closed following the tragedy.