Death of Orlando FreeFall: Operator made “manual adjustments” to Tire Sampson seat, report says
Officials announced on Monday the results of a forensic investigation into the cause of death of 14-year-old Tyr Sampson at the Orlando FreeFall tower in ICON Park in March.
Orlando, Florida – A forensic investigation into how 14-year-old Tyre Sampson fell to his death from the Orlando FreeFall tower at ICON Park concluded that one of the car’s belt sensors was set manually, providing false safety OK when Sampson actually was not properly secured, according to the report’s findings.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicki Fried said the findings of Quest Engineering, a state-owned forensic company, found that the Orlando FreeFall operator had made manual adjustments to the driving belt sensor, “leading to danger.”
“The report confirms that the sensor settings for the seat in question have been manually adjusted, allowing the limiter opening belts to be almost twice the normal range of limiter opening,” Fried told a news conference Monday afternoon.
“These incorrect settings allowed the safety lights to illuminate incorrectly, satisfying the electronic safety mechanisms, which allowed the ride to work, although Mr. Sampson was not properly secured in the seat.”
You can see a copy of the Quest Engineering report below.
Fried said there were many other potential factors that may have played a role in the incident and the investigation is ongoing.
The descending tower will remain closed indefinitely, Fried said.
Earlier this month, Fried promised a “full and thorough investigation” into how Tyr Sampson fell from the falling Orlando FreeFall in ICON Park. She also stressed that her agency would not jump to conclusions until the investigation was completed and the report published.
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Sampson fell to his death from a trip Thursday, March 24, while visiting Orlando with another family from St. Louis, Missouri.
He and friends crossed the Orlando FreeFall, a vertical ride that takes people about 400 feet into the air and then falls freely to several hundred feet on the ground.
Sampson died after falling from the ride. The Orlando FreeFall’s operating instructions state that the maximum passenger weight is just over 286 pounds. Sampson was 6 feet 5 inches tall and reportedly weighed 360 pounds.
Geraldine Thompson, a member of the Florida House of Representatives who represents parts of Orlando, said walks should be required by law to show any height or weight restrictions.
RELATED: FreeFall in Orlando: Florida lawmaker calls for closing loophole after teenager dies while riding
FreeFall and Orlando Slingshot, both owned by The Slingshot Group, opened at ICON Park in December 2021. Based on the operation manual provided to the state and its inspectorate, both vehicles passed their initial flawless inspections, Commissioner Freud said. .
Both attractions have been closed since March 24.
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