ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) – A Florida jury has ordered the company behind an amusement park ride to pay millions of dollars to the family of a teen who died in 2022.
On Thursday, a Florida jury in Orange County determined that Funtime Handels, the company behind the Free Fall drop tower ride, should pay $310 million in damages to Tyre Sampson’s family.
Sampson, 14, was visiting the Orlando area from Missouri with his football program in March of 2022 when authorities say he slipped out of his seat about halfway down the ride and fell to his death at Icon Park.
The 14-year-old was rushed to the hospital but later died.
“My son was a fighter. And he fought all the way till the end,” the teen’s father, Yarnell Sampson, said. “And I just wish it never happened.”
Attorneys Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson issued the following statement after Thursday’s verdict:
“This verdict is a step forward in holding corporations accountable for the safety of their products. 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 today’s outcome ensures they face the consequences of those decisions.
“We hope this case serves as a wake-up call for the entire industry to implement stricter safety measures and oversight to prevent such tragedies from happening again. Tyre’s legacy will be a safer future for riders everywhere.”
The ride has since been dismantled and a settlement was also reached between the teen’s family and the park in 2023. The details of that agreement were not made public.
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