A 14-year-old boy rides”World’s tallest free-drop tower“in Orlando, Florida, died in a horrifying fall from attraction as horrified witnesses watched on Thursday.
Deputies received a 911 call and responded to ICON Park shortly after 11 p.m., where witnesses said someone had fallen from the Free Fall ride, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. declare. Tire Sampson was transported to the hospital where he died of his injuries.
Several witnesses called 911 to report what they saw: One woman told dispatchers that Sampson was downcast, unresponsive and appeared to have broken arms and legs. Another man told 911 dispatchers that the boy had no pulse.
Reality? Checked.Make sure you have the real story with Fact Check newsletter.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina said the investigation into the death is ongoing. But preliminary information suggests “it appears to be a terrible tragedy.” He said the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs is investigating the safety of the ride.
The ride opened at ICON Park in the heart of the Orlando Entertainment District late last year, as of January 1 release from the park. Thirty riders at the time could reach the top, lean forward, and then free-fall nearly 400 feet at speeds reaching over 75 mph.
Ken Martin, a theme park safety analyst in Virginia who works with parks, fairs, government organizations, insurance companies and attorneys general.
Sampson appeared to slide out of his seat when the vehicle braked as it approached the end of the slope, a witness told a 911 dispatcher. Video shows him being ejected from his seat at high speed. when the vehicle decelerates from descent.
Video and Photograph of the trip without a secondary seat belt to secure the belt over the shoulder. Martin told USA TODAY that such belts are generally a standard part of safety when riding in similar attractions.
Martin said he reviewed the video of the incident and that the added seat belt could have saved his life. He also said the incident underscores the importance of vehicle drivers checking seat belts properly.
“We have to bring them to the brink and bring them back to safety,” Martin said. “That’s not life. You must not die for no reason. “
Officials said the park would open on Friday. However, John Stine, a spokesman for the Slingshot Group of Enterprises, which owns and operates the ride, will be closed indefinitely. Stine said there have been no other safety issues with the ride since it opened.
IMAGE:China Eastern Airlines plane carrying 132 people crashed, no one survived
WATCH:LA police search for Tesla driver in street stunt crash
“Needless to say we were devastated,” Stine said. “Our hearts hurt this young man’s family, and we are cooperating with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the ongoing investigations by other local agencies that I cannot comment on. comment any further at this time.”
ICON Park is an entertainment complex in Orlando that includes amusement park rides as well as shopping, dining, aquarium, Madame Tussauds wax museum and other attractions.
In 2021, a maintenance technician who was not properly connected to safety equipment fell to his death during a ride near the park, the 450-foot StarFlyer swing.
Mina said Sampson was visiting a friend’s family in Florida from his home in Missouri during a news conference Friday.
“We couldn’t imagine what they were going through,” Mina said. “As a father to boys who ride bikes and go to amusement parks a lot, you know, it’s just a tragic situation.”
Contact Breaking News Reporter N’dea Yancey-Bragg at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @NdeaYanceyBragg. Contributors: Mike Davis and Alex N. Gecan, Asbury Park Press; Related press
