As a seasoned amusement park enthusiast who has braved countless thrill rides over the years, I can’t help but feel deeply saddened and outraged by the tragic case of Tyre Sampson. The $310 million verdict against Funtime Handels, the manufacturer of the FreeFall drop tower, is a stark reminder of the immense responsibility that these companies have when it comes to public safety.
Thrill rides at amusement parks are engineered to simulate risky situations while ensuring safety. However, despite these precautions, accidents can occur and, in extreme instances, result in devastating outcomes. Regrettably, this happened in 2022 when a 14-year-old boy met his end after falling from a drop tower attraction.
This week, a court in Orange County, Florida ruled that Funtime Handels, the manufacturer of the FreeFall drop tower attraction at Orlando’s ICON Park, is responsible for the death of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson in March 2022. The company, located in Austria, has been ordered to pay $310 million as a result of this ruling.
FreeFall Manufacturer Was The Only Defendant That Did Not Settle Out Of Court
It’s clear that $310 million isn’t a trivial sum of money. The family alleged that the ride manufacturer was negligent in designing, constructing, and overseeing the attraction. The company’s reaction to these accusations remains uncertain. As reported by WESH, the company did not appear in court during the trial to present their defense.
The lack of a defense is certainly one reason for the large damages award. The jury only ever heard the family’s side of the story. Funtime Handels did inspect the tower shortly after the accident, but it seems that at some point, the company simply stopped responding to the issue.
In the legal case initiated by the Sampson family, it’s just Funtime Attractions left standing as a defendant. Previously, both Slingshot, the operator of the attraction, and ICON Park, where the FreeFall tower resided, were also named in the suit. However, these cases against Slingshot and ICON Park were resolved outside of court, and the details of the settlements remain confidential.
Sadly, another tragic roller coaster accident similar to FreeFall occurred in 2022. In Denmark, a 14-year-old girl lost her life in a roller coaster mishap not long after Sampson’s fall. A month later, an incident involving the El Toro roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure left several people needing hospitalization due to a malfunction. The popular coaster was shut down for 10 months as it underwent extensive maintenance following this unfortunate event.
An INvestigation Revealed The Attraction Had Been Modified
Upon examining the incident at the FreeFall drop tower, it was found that the maximum weight allowed for riders was 275 pounds, a figure that Sampson surpassed by approximately 100 pounds. Furthermore, it was uncovered that modifications had been made to the seats on the tower to accommodate larger passengers. This adjustment created a wider space between the passenger and safety harness, ultimately leading to Sampson slipping out during his ride while in mid-air.
After the unfortunate event resulting in a teen’s demise, the amusement ride at Dollywood remained permanently closed and never resumed operations. Originally constructed by Funtime Handels, the drop tower attraction at Dollywood ceased to function immediately following the incident. However, over time, Dollywood reopened its facilities, but the FreeFall attraction was dismantled.
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2024-12-07 03:37