Jury Grants $310 Million to Parents of Teen Fatally Injured on Orlando Amusement Ride

The parents of a 14-year-old teenager from Missouri, who tragically lost his life in an amusement park incident in 2022, have been awarded a staggering $310 million in damages from the Austrian manufacturer of the ride, as per the family’s attorney.

An Orange County jury delivered its verdict late Thursday, mandating Funtime, the company responsible for constructing the ride, to pay $155 million each to Tyre Sampson’s parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson. Tyre Sampson passed away on March 24, 2022, after plummeting 70 feet from the Orlando Free Fall ride at Icon Park.

The family’s legal team, Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson, issued a statement following the jury’s decision. “The jury’s ruling reinforces our longstanding assertion: Tyre’s death resulted from egregious negligence and a disregard for safety in favor of profits.”

“The manufacturers of the ride failed in their obligation to safeguard their passengers, and the outcome of [Thursday] ensures they are held accountable,” they asserted.

The trial was succinct, lasting just one day, as Funtime did not appear in court to defend against the allegations, according to the Associated Press. Prior to the ruling, Icon Park had already settled with the Sampson family for an undisclosed amount.

The family is now faced with the challenge of obtaining a court order in Austria to collect the awarded damages.

Funtime did not provide an immediate response to NTD, a sister media outlet of The Epoch Times.

The website of the company displays various amusement rides designed to launch, drop, and spin riders at high velocities, including attractions named Vomatron, Sling Shot, and Chaos Pendle.

Tyre Sampson, a football player measuring 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 380 pounds, was visiting Orlando during spring break when he and his friends chose to go to the downtown amusement park.

The Orlando Free Fall ride accommodates 30 passengers in seats attached to a tower and secures riders with a shoulder harness before dropping them from a height of 430 feet. Notably, the ride did not feature seat belts, which are typically included in most drop rides.

Concerns about Sampson’s size were highlighted as a significant factor in the tragedy, with reports citing that the harness failed to lock securely due to his larger frame, resulting in his ejection from the seat when the ride braked at 70 feet above the ground, as reported by the Associated Press.

Sampson’s parents contended that both Icon Park and Funtime should have informed their son about the dangers posed by his size in relation to the ride. They also claimed that an adequate restraint system was not made available, pointing out that the addition of seat belts would have only cost approximately $660.

Following the incident, state authorities ordered the ride’s closure, and it has not reopened since. The ride is currently in the process of being demolished.

The Associated Press contributed to this report