Orlando, Fla. — In a significant court ruling, the parents of a Missouri teenager who tragically died after being ejected from a ride at an Orlando amusement park received a $310 million verdict. The decision came late Thursday against the Austrian company Funtime, which designed the ride from which 14-year-old Tyre Sampson fell in March 2022. The jury delivered their verdict after a single-day trial, in which the defendant did not appear to contest the claims.
The tragic incident occurred on March 24, 2022, when Sampson fell approximately 70 feet from the Orlando Free Fall ride at Icon Park. According to the lawsuit filed by Sampson’s family, the safety harness did not adequately secure the teenager due to his size—he stood 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 380 pounds. The ride involved securing riders with a shoulder harness but notably lacked a seatbelt system, which is commonly employed in similar attractions for added safety.
Sampson, a prominent young football player from the St. Louis area, was visiting the park during his spring break with friends when the accident occurred. Reports highlighted that the addition of a seat belt to each seat could have been implemented at a cost of just $660, a point of contention in the case arguing negligence on part of the ride’s operators and manufacturers for not providing adequate safety measures.
Funtime, known for creating high-thrill amusement rides including names like Vomatron, Sling Shot, and Chaos Pendlem, faced criticism not only for the safety of their ride but also for their lack of response in court. Following the tragic event, the state mandated the closure of the ride, which has never reopened and is currently being demolished.
The family was previously settled with Icon Park, where the ride was located and operated by Orlando Slingshot, a separate entity that was leasing the space. However, the specifics of that settlement have not been disclosed.
As the family’s legal battle won in the U.S., they must now pursue the case in Austria, where Funtime is based, to enforce the judgment and collect damages awarded by the court.
Legal representatives for the Sampson family, lawyers Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson, stated that this verdict underscored the neglect of passenger safety in favor of profits and emphasized the consequences the manufacturers will now face due to their failure in ensuring proper safety protocols.
The loss of Tyre Sampson has not only led to heartache for his family but also has spurred questions about safety practices and regulations within the amusement park industry. As this case concludes in the U.S., the broader implications for ride safety standards and manufacturer accountability continue to resonate.
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