Jury Awards $310 Million to Parents of Teen Killed in Orlando Amusement Ride

The parents of a 14-year-old Missouri teenager who died in a 2022 amusement park accident have been awarded $310 million in damages against the ride’s Austrian manufacturer, according to the family’s lawyer.
The Orange County jury reached its decision late Thursday, ordering Funtime, the company responsible for building the attraction, to pay $155 million to each of Tyre Sampson’s parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson. Tyre Sampson died on March 24, 2022, after falling 70 feet from the Orlando Free Fall ride at Icon Park.
The family’s legal representatives, Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson, released a statement following the verdict. “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 ride’s manufacturers neglected their duty to protect passengers, and [Thursday’s] outcome ensures they face the consequences,” they stated.
The trial was brief, lasting one day, as Funtime failed to appear in court to defend itself, according to the Associated Press. Prior to the verdict, Icon Park had already reached a settlement with the Sampson family for an undisclosed sum.
The family now faces the challenge of seeking an order from an Austrian court to collect the awarded damages.
Funtime did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NTD, a sister media of The Epoch Times.
The company’s website showcases a range of amusement rides, which are seen to throw, drop, and spin riders at high speeds, including ones named Vomatron, Sling Shot, and Chaos Pendle.
A football star standing at 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 380 pounds from the St. Louis area, Tyre Sampson was visiting Orlando on spring break when he and his friends decided to visit the downtown amusement park.
The Orlando Free Fall ride accommodates 30 riders in seats attached to a tower and locks passengers in with a shoulder harness before dropping them 430 feet. Notably, the ride lacked seat belts, a component commonly found on most drop rides.
Sampson’s size was cited as one of the main reasons for the accident, causing failure of his harness to lock properly due to his large frame, which resulted in his ejection from the seat when the ride braked at a height of 70 feet from the ground, the Associated Press reported.
Sampson’s parents argued that both Icon Park and Funtime should have warned their son about the risks associated with his size and the ride. They also argued that a proper restraint system was not provided. The parents pointed out that adding seat belts would have cost around $660.
In the aftermath of the accident, state authorities ordered the ride’s closure, and it never reopened. The ride is now in the process of being demolished.