It’s been two years since 14-year-old Tyre Sampson fell to his death from an amusement park ride in Florida after his seat harness was loosened. Finally, the case surrounding his death has come to a close and at a serious cost of the rollercoaster’s company.
In March of 2022, the high school football player attended ICON Park in Orange County with his friends for spring break. When boarding the 400-foot tall FreeFall drop tower ride, authorities say he weighed another 100 pounds above the recommended weight, per FOX 35 Orlando. However, a state investigation found a ride worker manually adjusted the seat to accommodate the teen, causing him to not be secured properly.
A chilling video from that evening was posted to social media showing the teen fall from his harness as the ride swiftly descended to the ground. The ride braked about 45 feet above the ground at the moment Sampson fell, per Florida Today. A witness told the 911 dispatcher he was face down on the ground and there was “blood everywhere,” per the call recording. The witness repeatedly said he believed he was dead at the scene. The teen died of his injuries at the hospital. The medical examiner ruled his death as an accident from blunt force trauma.
Since the incident, the ride was closed and eventually dismantled altogether.
The teen’s family sued ICON Park, the ride’s owner as well as the ride’s manufacturer, Funtime Handels, in a wrongful death lawsuit. The theme park and ride’s owner settled with the family for an undisclosed amount. However, Funtime Handels was ordered by a jury Thursday to pay $310 million in damages to the family of the teen.
“Tyre’s death was the result of blatant negligence and a failure to prioritize safety over profits. The ride’s manufacturers neglected their duty to protect passengers, and today’s outcome ensures they face the consequences of those decisions,” said civil attorney Benjamin Crump, who represented the family.