“Family of Teen Killed on Amusement Park Ride Wins $310M Verdict”

 

The parents of a 14-year-old Missouri boy who died after falling from an Orlando amusement park ride in 2022 have been awarded $310 million in a lawsuit against the ride’s Austrian manufacturer.

An Orange County jury ordered Funtime, the ride’s manufacturer, to pay $155 million each to Tyre Sampson’s parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson. Tyre fell 70 feet to his death on March 24, 2022, while riding the Orlando Free Fall attraction at Icon Park. Funtime did not appear in court to defend itself, resulting in a one-day trial.

Tyre’s family previously reached a settlement with Icon Park for an undisclosed amount.

“This verdict confirms that Tyre’s death resulted from negligence and a failure to prioritize safety,” the family’s attorneys stated. They emphasized that the ride’s manufacturer did not fulfill its responsibility to ensure passenger safety.

To collect the damages, Tyre’s family will need to seek enforcement in Austria, where Funtime is based. The company has not responded to requests for comment.

Tyre, a football player from the St. Louis area, was visiting Orlando on spring break when the incident occurred. The Orlando Free Fall ride, which drops riders from a height of 430 feet, did not have seat belts, and Tyre’s harness failed to secure him properly due to his size. He was ejected when the ride braked 70 feet above the ground.

His parents argued that the manufacturer and park failed to warn about size restrictions and did not implement sufficient safety measures. Adding seat belts to the ride would have cost $660.

The ride was permanently closed after the accident and has since been dismantled.