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Late Thursday, the Orange County jury ordered that the
manufacturer Funtime pay $155 million each to Tyre Sampson's
parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson. He died on March 24,
2022, after falling 70 feet (21 meters) from the Orlando Free
Fall ride at Icon Park. The trial lasted only a day as Funtime
never appeared in court to defend itself.
Icon Park, which rented the ride's space to Orlando Slingshot,
the ride's owner and operator, had already settled with
Sampson's family for an undisclosed amount.
“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 family's lawyers, Ben Crump
and Natalie Jackson, said in a statement. “The ride’s
manufacturers neglected their duty to protect passengers, and
(Thursday's) outcome ensures they face the consequences."
The family will now have to seek an order from an Austrian court
to collect the damages.
Funtime did not respond to an email sent to its headquarters
Friday seeking comment. The company's website shows that it
manufactures thrill rides that throw, drop and spin passengers
at high speeds and from tall elevations, including attractions
named Vomatron, Sling Shot and Chaos Pendle.
Sampson, a football standout who stood 6 foot, 2 inches tall
(1.9 meters) and weighed 380 pounds (172 kilograms), was
visiting Orlando on spring break from the St. Louis area when he
went with friends to the downtown amusement park.
They rode the Orlando Free Fall, which placed 30 riders in seats
attached to a tower, secured them with a shoulder harness and
then dropped them 430 feet (131 meters). It didn't have seat
belts, something most drop rides have as an additional safety
measure.
Because of Sampson's size, the harness didn't lock properly and
he was ejected from his seat when the ride braked 70 feet from
the ground.
His parents argued that Orlando Slingshot and Funtime should
have warned their son about the risks of someone his size going
on the ride and didn’t provide an appropriate restraint system.
Adding seat belts would have cost $660.
The state ordered the ride closed after the accident and it
never reopened. It is now being demolished.
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