The parents of the 14-year-old boy who died last month after falling from the Free Fall ride at Icon Park in Orlando, FL, are suing the ride’s owner, manufacturer, construction contractor, and ICON Park.
In the lawsuit, Tyre Sampson’s family is suing under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act for more than $30,000. The family is seeking damages for pain and suffering and loss of future earnings.
The complaint lists ICON Park, Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot/Extreme Amusement Rides, LLC, whose principal owner is Ritchie Armstrong, Funtime Handels GMBH, and Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GMBH. Keator Construction, LLC, owned by Clark L. Keator of Ocoee, High Rides, LLC, which is also owned by Ritchie Armstrong, ID Center, and I-Drive 360 Management Services, both owned by Chuck Whittall, developer of Icon Park, and IDL Parent, LLC.
Tyre Sampson’s parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson, have filed a seven-count complaint alleging “negligence” and “strict liability” against all defendants.
During spring break, Sampson visited ICON Park with friends, where he rode the 430-foot tall drop ride. The boy then fell from his seat after it rose to the top and tilted forward by 30 degrees before sliding down at 75 mph. He died as a result of traumatic injuries.
Sampson’s seat reportedly was improperly secured due to manual harness modification, resulting in the teen falling from his seat through the harness opening as it dropped.
The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is investigating why the seat alteration was done and what penalties Slingshot Group and any affiliated entities may face.
WESH 2 News reported that the Free Fall ride’s operations and maintenance manual lists the maximum rider weight at 287 pounds. The lawsuit lists Tyre as being 6 feet 2 inches tall and 380 pounds. Neither the ticket counter nor the entrance to the ride indicated weight restrictions.
The allegations listed against the defendants are “concealing the defective design of the Free Fall Ride, failure to train employees, failure to test the ride properly,” and “failure to install seat belts or a secondary safety system.”
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