Orlando, Fla. — In a landmark decision, the parents of a 14-year-old Missouri boy who tragically died after falling from a ride in Orlando received a $310 million verdict against the ride’s Austrian manufacturer. The accident, which took place at Icon Park on March 24, 2022, has underscored significant concerns about ride safety measures and accountability.
Tyre Sampson, who hailed from the St. Louis area of Missouri, lost his life when he plummeted about 70 feet from the Orlando Free Fall ride during a spring break trip. The Orange County jury awarded his parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson, $155 million each. The verdict followed a brief trial which Funtime, the Austrian company responsible for constructing the ride, did not attend.
The Orlando Free Fall, which did not feature a seat belt as additional protection despite the height of the drop, allegedly failed to appropriately secure Tyre due to his physical size. Tyre, a football player, stood 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 380 pounds. Reports suggest that the shoulder harness did not lock properly, leading to his ejection from the ride as it braked sharply before reaching the ground.
The family’s attorneys, Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson, claimed that the accident was a direct result of glaring negligence by the ride’s manufacturers who prioritized profits over safety. They suggested that adding seat belts to the ride, a safety measure that could have been implemented at the cost of $660, was foregone.
Icon Park, which had leased the space for the ride to Orlando Slingshot, the operator and owner of the ride, settled with the Sampson family for an undisclosed amount prior to this verdict. However, the responsibility of ride safety and appropriate passenger restrictions remained a critical point of contention during the case.
In response to this tragic event, the state authorities have closed the ride indefinitely, and there are ongoing efforts to demolish the structure. This legal outcome not only provides a degree of closure for Tyre’s family but also signals a strong message regarding the accountability of amusement ride manufacturers and operators.
As the Sampson family prepares to seek enforcement of the judgment in Austria, where Funtime is based, this case might influence how safety standards are enforced internationally in the amusement park industry.
Despite requests for comment, Funtime did not respond; their website continues to promote various high-adrenaline rides such as the Vomatron, Sling Shot, and Chaos Pendle, which involve significant heights and velocities.
This tragic accident and subsequent legal proceedings highlight the imperative for rigorous safety protocols and transparent communication about potential risks to all amusement park visitors, especially for rides that reach extreme heights and speeds.
The actions taken after Tyre’s fall can serve as a critical evaluation point for safety standards and enforcement in amusement parks worldwide, hopefully guiding towards more stringent safety implementations and operational transparency.
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