(UnitedReader.com) – At ICON Park on March 24, 14-year-old Tyre Sampson died after falling from the Orlando FreeFall. The ride takes passengers into the air, tilts them at 30 degrees, and sends them back down at 75 mph in a 430-foot descent. New information shows an issue with the teen’s safety harness.
A Fox News report released on March 28 shows the teen’s safety harness was still locked when the ride descended after his fall, meaning he most likely slipped out of the device. The park accident report, given by a staffer, had three employee witnesses including the ride operator.
Florida FreeFall teen death: seat harness still locked after horrifying accident at Orlando parkhttps://t.co/u11PJuGlLl
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 29, 2022
There is also concern about operator error. According to CBS News, Sampson, who weighed over 300 pounds, was too heavy for the ride’s 286-pound weight limit. Individuals at the park with the teen said employees turned him away from other rides earlier in the day due to his size.
Video footage of the incident shows the teen slipping out of the ride and falling to the pavement below. 911 calls after the accident have witnesses saying he was not secure in the seat before the drop, and another person said the ride jerked to a stop before the incident.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office continue investigations into Sampson’s death. ICON Park shut down the FreeFall and another ride owned by SlingShot Group until authorities can verify their safety.
In a statement, a park official said they’re fully cooperating with investigators and send condolences to the teen’s family. Sampson’s father, Yarnell Sampson, told Fox3 Orlando he believes his son knew there was a problem because, prior to the ride’s descent, he asked his friend to tell his parents he loved them if he didn’t make it down.
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