ORLANDO, Fla. — A Florida jury has ordered a $310 million payout to the family of a teenager who tragically died after falling from an amusement park ride last year. The verdict came after 14-year-old Tyre Sampson fell from the Freefall Drop Tower at Icon Park in March 2022, an incident that led to significant legal and regulatory repercussions.
The legal investigation uncovered that adjustments had been made to two seats on the ride to accommodate Tyre’s larger body size, which unfortunately led to him slipping out of his safety harness. Pursuing justice for Tyre, his family initiated lawsuits against both the amusement park and the owner of the ride. While those lawsuits were settled, the case against the ride’s manufacturer, Funtime Handels, proceeded to trial.
In a detailed verdict, the jury awarded compensatory damages for both past and future pain, suffering, and medical or funeral expenses. Nikia Dodd, Tyre’s mother, was awarded $30 million for past damages and an additional $125 million for future damages. Similarly, Tyre’s father, Yarnell Sampson, received $30 million for past damages and another $125 million for future considerations.
Following the incident, the Freefall Drop Tower was permanently dismantled in early 2023 as a direct consequence of the tragedy. The emotional toll on the Sampson family was articulated by Yarnell Sampson, who expressed his anguish over the irreparable loss of his son. “I see why any kid wanna come here and have fun, but why my child got to be the one,” he stated. “Ain’t no money gonna solve this problem.”
The incident also spurred legislative change; Florida state lawmakers passed a new law aimed at tightening safety regulations for amusement park rides, named in honor of Tyre Sampson. This law seeks to enhance the safety measures and oversight to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
The legal and legislative responses indicate a move towards greater accountability and safety in the amusement park industry, driven by the tragic loss of a young life and the subsequent advocacy for change. The hope is that such measures will spare other families the grief experienced by the Sampsons.
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