Gregory Robinson
The family of Tyre Sampson have been awarded $310 million after his tragic death at an amusement park.
The 14-year-old fell from the FreeFall drop tower attraction at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida on March 24, 2022.
He was rushed to a local hospital but died of his injuries.
Sampson, who was from St. Louis County, Missouri, visited the amusement park with his family.
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His family has won a civil lawsuit against Funtime Handels, the Austria-based manufacturer of the ride. Sampson’s parents will receive $155 million each, a spokesperson for Michael Haggard, one of the family’s lawyers, told local news station KSDK.
The jury deliberated for an hour before the verdict was announced.
Family attorneys, Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson, also announced the news on X on Thursday (December 5).
"This verdict is a step forward in holding corporations accountable for the safety of their products," the statement reads. "The jury's decision confirms what we have long argued: Tyre's death was the result of blatant negligence and a failure to prioritize safety over profits."
The attorneys concluded: "Tyre's legacy will be a safer future for riders everywhere.”
An accident report previously released by the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services said the ride’s magnets ‘engaged’ upon descent and the teen ‘came out’ of his seat’. There was a 430-foot drop and Sampson died of ‘multiple injuries and trauma’.
In March 2022, Sampson’s dad, Yarnell Sampson, said he found out about his son’s death on social media.
"It felt like somebody hit me so hard in my stomach," he told WESH. "I just lost, I lost, lost wind. And the pain behind it could never be taken away, and sorry's not gonna take it back and no monies, no nothing in the world to replace the young man.
"And it's just sad, a young man's bright future was taken away from him over a ride, an amusement park," he added.
A statement was shared by ICON Park following Sampson’s death in which they said they were working with authorities to investigate.
"Tonight, the ICON Park family is grieving because of the tragedy involving Tyre Sampson. Our heartfelt thoughts are with his family and friends. ICON Park is committed to being a place where families can spend quality time together in a safe and fun space," the statement said.
"We are in close coordination and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement and regulators regarding our tenant, the SlingShot Group."
UNILAD has approached ICON Park for comment.