Defendants in Monday’s state court case include ICON Park; SlingShot, owned and operated by Orlando FreeFall; the manufacturer of riding based in Austria Funtime Handels; and Germany-based seat and belt manufacturer Gerstlauer Amusement Rides.
Last week, ICON Park said it was “deeply concerned that preliminary findings from the state investigation show that the Orlando FreeFall attraction sensor, owned and operated by the SlingShot Group, was misaligned after the sensor was initially secured in place. “
“ICON Park is committed to providing a safe and fun experience for families. “We will continue to support the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services with their ongoing investigation,” the statement said.
Orlando SlingShot’s lawyer, Trevor Arnold, issued a written statement Monday saying the company “continues to cooperate fully with the state during the investigation and will continue to do so until it is officially completed.”
“We reiterate that all protocols, procedures and safety measures provided by the vehicle manufacturer have been complied with,” the statement said.
We look forward to working with the Florida legislature to implement change in the industry, and we also support the concepts outlined by Attorney General Geraldine Thompson to make changes to state legislation through the Tire Sampson Bill to prevent a tragic accident. like this never to happen again. ”
Funtime Handels and Gerstlauer Amusement Rides did not respond immediately to CNN’s requests for comment.
Metal detector, but without weight limit
There were no clear weight restrictions or scales on the riding area, although the ride was tilted about 30 degrees forward, the suit said. Michael Haggard, the lawyer representing Tyre’s mother, Some Dodd, said he was appalled by the omission.
“The manufacturer in the manual immediately says that you can not exceed 287 pounds. However, they do not provide a scale. They are not telling the operator that you need to have a scale if the weight is in question, “Haggard told CNN on Monday.
“And yet on this ride in Orlando, the FreeFall attraction, they have a metal detector. So you go through a metal detector, which has no risk associated with driving, except that maybe the keys can fall out and hit someone, “he said.
“It’s fun to ride. It’s a thrill. But no … it shouldn’t kill you.”
The seat belt system would help, the case said
“While most free fall rides of this type have both a shoulder belt and a seat belt, this free fall ride only had a shoulder strap to” provide “riders,” the lawsuit said.
To equip the trip with a seat belt combination, “all seats combined would cost approximately $ 660,” according to the lawsuit. And that could save Tyre’s life, Haggard said.
“What’s really sad about this is that if they had put on their seat belts, it would have cost $ 22 (on the spot). You would have paid for it for two to three trips,” Haggard said. “It would be paid for overnight, and it would never happen.”
The lawsuit states that a “reasonable manufacturer, designer, operator, distributor, designer and supplier” would install a mechanism to stop riding if the rider’s limiter was not properly secured and also prevented the sensors from being manipulated. or regulated.
Such a free fall ride in Hollywood – which is temporarily closed in light of the Florida tragedy – involves lower restraints, Haggard said. While this ride may also be tilting forward, he said, Hollywood operators have chosen not to tilt forward for safety reasons.
But Hollywood’s public relations director, Wes Rami, said the trip to Hollywood was not meant to be tilted.
Others have complained about the same place, the lawyer said
The lawsuit accuses several defendants of “allowing the trip, and especially the seat on which the Tire is placed, to remain in service despite performance problems.”
Haggard told CNN that others had mentioned problems with the seat in which Tire was riding.
“A number of witnesses who were riding in Seat 1 before the accident came out, complaining that they felt relaxed, that it was different from the other seats,” the lawyer said.
“They can look the other way and see that someone else is tighter than them. There have been a number of complaints before. No one has dropped out, thank God, but there have definitely been complaints from previous witnesses who will testify,” he said. he.
CNN asked ICON Park to comment on the allegation, but did not receive an immediate response.
Orlando SlingShot responded, but said he had no further comment other than his lawyer’s statement.
What the family wants
Tyr’s parents, Jarnel Sampson and Dodd, are seeking compensation, such as medical care and funeral expenses, as well as compensation for the mental pain and suffering of their son’s death, the lawsuit said.
The family has requested a lawsuit. But Dodd is also trying to help solve an ongoing problem in the entertainment industry, Haggard said.
“One of the problems here is that there is limited federal oversight. Each state has its own department of agriculture or a department that oversees amusement parks,” Haggard said. “She wants to make sure that not only will this not happen (again) in this facility, but it will never happen anywhere. That is her goal.”
Orlando FreeFall was closed after Tyr’s death and will remain so indefinitely, said the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services commissioner. The agency is responsible for inspecting all entertainment attractions in Florida, except those in large parks with more than 1,000 employees and full-time inspectors.
Dodd wants the trip closed permanently, she told ABC Good Morning America on Tuesday.
“(Tyre’s death) could have been prevented,” his mother told ABC.
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