Teen Dies After Fall From Amusement Park Ride

There are a few daredevils out there in the world who drive in excess of 100 miles per hour, jump from tall structures, and intentionally get close to alligators and other predatory animals, but most of us refrain from such activities under ordinary circumstances because they are just too dangerous.  Amusement park thrill rides and animal encounters enable us to experience the excitement of these dangerous activities in a controlled environment where the danger is just an illusion.  The car hurtling along at what would otherwise be unsafe speeds is attached to a track, so it can’t derail, the bungee cord and safety harness make it so that you will not hit the ground after jumping off of the tower, and the alligators, even though they are so close that you can see every tooth in their mouths and every bump on their backs, are separated from you by a thick pane of glass.  It is against the law for recreational attractions to endanger people, and places of business are legally liable for causing preventable accidents on the premises.  If you have suffered serious injuries at an amusement park, contact a Columbia premises liability lawyer.

Orlando Free Fall Ride Ends in Tragedy

Orlando’s most famous theme parks, such as Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios Orlando, have been defendants in premises liability lawsuits as a result of accidents at the parks that resulted in injury or death.  Last month, one of Orlando’s lesser-known tourist attractions was the site of a tragic accident.  Tyre Sampson, a teenager from Missouri, was visiting Orlando with a friend and the friend’s parents, when the group visited Icon Park on tourist-packed International Drive.

Sampson rode the Orlando Free Fall ride, a drop tower ride which only misses out on the title of being Orlando’s tallest structure by 11 feet.  It lifts 30 passengers into the air and rotates them around before descending at 75 miles per hour.  A guest’s cell phone video from before the ride began showed riders expressing worry about the safety harnesses.  While the ride was ascending, Sampson’s harness came loose, and he fell to the ground.  He died later that night at a hospital.  He was 14 years old.

Sampson’s parents have filed a premises liability lawsuit against Icon Park and against the company that owns the Orlando Free Fall ride.  This is not the first fatal accident to have occurred at Icon Park.  In 2020, a maintenance worker who was performing a safety check on another ride at the park died after falling from the ride.

Let Us Help You Today

Amusement parks and other recreational areas have a legal responsibility to keep guests safe.  The South Carolina premises liability lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you if you were injured in a preventable accident during a vacation or recreational outing.  Contact The Stanley Law Group in Columbia, South Carolina or call (803)799-4700 for a free initial consultation.

Source

cbsnews.com/news/teen-dies-orlando-free-fall-ride-icon-park/