In a significant legal decision, the parents of a 14-year-old boy from Missouri, who tragically fell to his death from a ride at an Orlando amusement park in 2022, have secured a $310 million ruling against the Austrian company responsible for building the attraction.
On Thursday evening, an Orange County jury directed the firm, Funtime, to pay $155 million each to the boy’s parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson. Tyre Sampson lost his life on March 24, 2022, after plummeting 70 feet (21 meters) from the Orlando Free Fall ride located at Icon Park. The trial was expedited, concluding in just one day, as Funtime did not appear to defend its case.
It is important to note that Icon Park, which leased space for the ride, had previously reached a settlement with the Sampson family for an undisclosed sum.
The family’s attorneys, Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson, expressed their relief regarding the jury’s ruling, stating, “The jury’s decision confirms what we have long argued: Tyre’s death was the result of blatant negligence and a failure to prioritize safety over profits.” They emphasized that the manufacturers had failed in their responsibility to ensure passenger safety, and the outcome of the trial would hold them accountable.
To collect the awarded damages, the family will need to secure a legal order from courts in Austria.
Funtime did not provide any comment when contacted via email. According to the company’s official website, it specializes in creating thrilling rides that involve high-speed drops and spins, with various attractions including Vomatron, Sling Shot, and Chaos Pendle.
Tyre Sampson, who was a promising young football player measuring 6 feet, 2 inches (1.9 meters) and weighing 380 pounds (172 kilograms), was in Orlando for spring break with friends when they visited the amusement park.
The Orlando Free Fall ride accommodates 30 passengers in seats linked to a central tower, securing them with shoulder harnesses before dropping them from a height of 430 feet (131 meters). However, this particular ride lacked seat belts, a standard safety feature found in most similar attractions.
Because of Sampson’s considerable size, the harness failed to secure him properly, resulting in him being ejected from his seat when the ride slowed down 70 feet above the ground.
The parents contended that both Orlando Slingshot and Funtime should have cautioned their son regarding the dangers associated with riding, given his size, and pointed out the absence of an adequate restraint system. They asserted that adding seat belts would have only incurred a cost of $660.
In the wake of the incident, state officials ordered the amusement ride to be shut down permanently, and it is now undergoing demolition.
