Florida: Dad of Teen Who Died From Orlando FreeFall Demands "Death Trap" to Shut Down

Orlando FreeFall victim Tyre Sampson's father sought the permanent closure of the park ride in Florida, where the 14-year-old lost his life last March.

Yarnell Sampson, the victim's father, called the Orlando FreeFall a death trap, during a Monday press conference at the ICON Park arranged by attorney Ben Crump, according to Fox News.

"You get on that ride again, and someone else is gonna die. It may not be today, it could be tomorrow, it could be a year from now, but I guarantee if you open that ride again, someone else is gonna die," Yarnell Sampson highlighted.

Sampson's father also believes that race has played why the Florida park operator, The Slingshot Group, was granted a new lease from the theme park to put up a second ride while the Orlando FreeFall death probe continues.

"I hate to say this, I don't want to use the race thing - but I believe because my son is a Black young man, that he is being treated like this. And I believe if it was a European child, it would have been something different," Sampson's father said.

In addition, Sampson's father also sought a public apology and announced that his family's goal is to reach 25,000 to 30,000 signatures to replace the park ride with a statue and permanent memorial.

Democratic State Representative Geraldine Thompson, who also spoke at the press conference, accused The Slingshot Group of being tone-deaf for both removing the memorial placed at the foot of Orlando FreeFall and for obtaining a second lease.

The father of the Orlando FreeFall victim also called for a drug test aimed at "teenage operators."

Death of Teen After Plunging From Orlando FreeFall Ruled as Accident

NBC quoated a report from the Orange County Medical Examiner that ruled Tyre Sampson's death as an accident.

The autopsy also noted that Tyre's size had been a factor in his death, mentioning that the 14-year-old, who played football in the St. Louis area, weighed 383 pounds. The Orlando FreeFall's maximum ride weight is 285 pounds.

"I kind of knew that when it happened. But to hear it, it was unbearable. It was unbearable," Wendy Wooten, Tyre Sampson's stepmother, said about the autopsy.

The Death of Tyre Sampson in Florida's Orlando FreeFall

Tyre Sampson died in March after he plunged from Florida ICON Park's Orlando FreeFall, a park ride that is taller than the Statue of Liberty, according to the Associated Press. He was visiting Florida from Missouri with a friend's family during that time.

Tyre died of blunt force trauma that was caused by the fall. He reportedly had many injuries all over his body, including a broken jaw, leg, arm, and ribs.

An initial report by outside engineers hired by Florida's Department of Agriculture revealed that sensors in the Orlando FreeFall had been adjusted manually to double the size of the opening for restraints on two seats. This resulted in Tyre Sampson not being properly secured on the ride.

The teenager's parents have sued the ride's owner, manufacturer, and landlord, claiming that they were negligent and failed to provide a safe amusement park ride.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

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