In what has become a devastating and high-profile case, a teenager’s tragic death at the hands of a malfunctioning ride has led to a renewed investigation and legal action. The Orlando FreeFall ride, which claims to be one of the world’s tallest drop towers, has been linked to the accident that resulted in the death of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson.
His family has already filed lawsuits against the park’s operators, and now a new suit has been filed, adding further layers to the legal and public scrutiny surrounding the incident.
The Orlando FreeFall, located at Icon Park in Orlando, Florida, was meant to be an exhilarating thrill ride for visitors. However, on March 24, 2022, the reality of the situation would be much darker. Tyre Sampson, visiting from St. Louis, Missouri, was reportedly struggling to fit into the ride’s restraints due to his size — standing at just over six feet tall and weighing more than 350 pounds.
After the restraints were manually adjusted, Tyre was sent on the ride, which would tragically end in his fatal fall.
The Incident and Its Aftermath
During the ride, Tyre fell from his seat while the ride descended, plummeting 430 feet to the ground below. Witnesses described the horrific scene, and despite the ride’s high safety standards, investigations soon revealed critical flaws.
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The safety restraints had been improperly adjusted, compromising Tyre’s safety during the fall. The family of Tyre Sampson, understandably devastated, filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging that the ride’s operator, Slingshot Group, and the ride manufacturer, Funtime Thrill Rides, were negligent in ensuring proper safety protocols were followed.
“The tragic death of Tyre Sampson has raised important questions about amusement park safety and whether the operators are properly maintaining and inspecting their equipment,” said the Sampson family’s lawyer in a statement following the filing of the wrongful death lawsuit.
This new lawsuit isn’t the first of its kind, as Tyre’s family has already secured substantial compensation in the ongoing legal battle. A recent settlement awarded his parents a total of $310 million in damages.
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Additional Lawsuit Filed by Former Worker
Yet, the story does not end there. Just as the public began to process the loss of Tyre, an additional lawsuit filed just days ago brought forth new accusations and troubling details. The new case was brought by a former worker at Icon Park who claims to have witnessed ongoing safety violations on the ride prior to the incident.
The lawsuit filed by former employee Austin Campbell-Alexander accuses the park of disregarding safety protocols, which ultimately led to Tyre’s death.
Campbell-Alexander, who worked as a maintenance technician at the Orlando FreeFall ride, alleges that he had informed his supervisors about safety issues related to the ride’s locking mechanism and sensors before Tyre’s fatal accident. He asserts that his warnings were ignored and that the park continued to operate the ride with critical safety flaws.
Campbell-Alexander’s Allegations
“Before the tragic fall of Tyre Sampson, I raised concerns about the ride’s safety measures and was told nothing would be done about it,” Campbell-Alexander claimed in his lawsuit. “I was not the only one who noticed issues. The negligence was not a one-time event; it was a recurring issue.”
The lawsuit goes on to allege that, after Tyre’s death, Campbell-Alexander was instructed to falsify maintenance logs to cover up the safety violations. When he refused, he was reportedly placed on paid leave and eventually fired for his insubordination.
The lawsuit claims that the company attempted to bury the issues surrounding the FreeFall ride to avoid further public scrutiny.
“After Tyre Sampson’s death, I was asked to backfill maintenance logs and sign off on the completion of certain tasks that were never actually completed,” Campbell-Alexander stated. “I couldn’t in good conscience do that, knowing what had happened and the reasons why it happened.”
Legal and Corporate Fallout
The allegations made by Campbell-Alexander add another layer to the mounting legal problems facing both Slingshot Group and Icon Park. In his lawsuit, Campbell-Alexander demands compensation for his wrongful termination as well as damages for emotional distress. He is seeking $50,000 in damages, along with a formal investigation into the practices at Icon Park.
“After Tyre Sampson’s death, I was told to lie about what had happened, about what had gone wrong. I could not bring myself to do that,” Campbell-Alexander continued. “The public deserves to know the truth.”
The Operator’s Response and Legal Challenges Ahead
Eagle Drop Slingshot argues that Mr. Campbell-Alexander’s lawsuit directly contradicts his statements made right after the March 2022 accident. They also assert that Mr. Campbell-Alexander was responsible for adjusting the sensors that contributed to Tyre’s accident, which is the reason he was placed on leave initially.
Meanwhile, the Orlando FreeFall ride was dismantled in March 2023, nearly a year after the incident. Icon Park announced the decision to remove the ride permanently, a step they say was necessary to ensure the safety of future visitors.
While the legal battles continue, the death of Tyre Sampson has sparked a wider conversation about the responsibility of amusement parks to protect their guests. It remains to be seen whether these lawsuits will lead to sweeping changes in the industry or if future tragedies can be avoided.
We continue to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Tyre Sampson. We keep them and Tyre in our thoughts.
Anytime a young person dies, it’s tragic, but at the same time, he should have realized it wasn’t safe for him to ride. It’s time amusement parks stop making special adjustments for individuals who are extra big or obese. There is nothing worse than watching a large person trying to squeeze into a seat/vehicle designed for a normal or child!