Tyre Sampson, 14, has a legal settlement with his mother, ICON Park, and the operator of the Orlando FreeFall attraction, according to the mother of Tyre Sampson.
On March 24, 2022, Sampson perished after he went over the edge of the Orlando FreeFall at ICON Park. According to FOX 35, Sampson’s mother, Nekia Dodd, was in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday to make the settlement announcement.
It’s horrible, it’s devastating, and it’s a sensation I hope no other parent will ever have to experience after this ride is taken down, said Dodd, who lost his son on the ride. I wasn’t there for him when he passed away, I said.
The Associated Press covered the news on its official Twitter account:
Almost a year after a Missouri teen fell to his death, a 400-foot amusement ride is being dismantled this week in central Florida’s tourism corridor. Tyre Sampson, 14, was visiting Orlando for spring break when he died from the fall. https://t.co/t9CKvkePrd
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 15, 2023
What Did Former Florida Commissioner Say?
Since the incident on March 24, the ride has been closed. Incorrect changes to the seat’s proximity sensor, according to former Florida commissioner of agriculture and consumer services Nikki Fried, caused the safety light to malfunction, allowing Sampson to ride even though he wasn’t “fully strapped in the seat.”
Dodd stated that she doesn’t want any of the ride’s relics to be left behind while crews work to disassemble it. Sampson’s mother appealed for seatbelts and harnesses to be provided on rides that soar higher than 100 feet in the air. The 400-foot height of the Orlando FreeFall.
The proximity sensor on the seat that Sampson was in, according to a report by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, had to be manually “loosed, adjusted, then tightened to allow a restraint opening of about 7 inches.”
The range typically ranges between 3 inches, according to the research.
Orlando Slingshot is happy that a settlement was reached, according to Trevor Arnold, an attorney representing the firm, who spoke to Fox News Digital.
“The fact that a resolution has been achieved makes us happy. Also, we still stand behind Sen. Thompson as she works to pass the “Tyre Sampson bill” into state law “Added Arnold.
ICON Park issued a statement expressing its support for the decision to demolish the ride.
“While the FreeFall ride is not owned and was not controlled or operated by ICON Park, because it is a tenant on the property, we agree with the owner’s decision to dismantle the ride and our hearts are with the family as they witness this important milestone,” a spokesperson for the amusement park said.
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