State seeks to fine operator, revoke permit after teen fatally falls off Orlando park ride
The operator of an Orlando drop tower ride in which a teenager fell to his death should pay a $250,000 fine and be barred from holding another ride permit in Florida, state officials said.
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried on Tuesday issued an administrative complaint against Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot LLC following Tyre Sampson’s tragic death earlier this year.
Tyre, a 14-year-old from Missouri, plummeted from the 400-foot drop tower in March while visiting ICON Park with a friend’s family.
An investigation revealed that “manual adjustments were made to the Orlando drop tower resulting in the ride being unsafe.” Those adjustments impacted a seat sensor and led to an ill-fitting seat restraint harness.
READ MORE: Screams erupt as witnesses watch teen’s fatal fall from thrill ride, Florida cops say
The Orlando FreeFall — “the world’s tallest drop tower” — opened last December. The ride has been closed to the public since March after the tragedy.
The department is proposing new requirements, including increased safety checks and more frequent modification reports, to ensure Florida amusement rides are safe, Fried said. The investigation was also turned over to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for potential criminal charges.
Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot has 21 days to request a hearing if it wants to dispute any of the department’s allegations, according to the complaint.
Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot supports the changes Fried outlined on Tuesday, attorney Trevor Arnold said in an email statement. After Tyre’s death, the operator suspended two employees and brought in outside firms to improve training, maintenance and safety.
“Immediately following this tragic accident, we promptly investigated and took appropriate actions as a result of that investigation,” Arnold said. “We took these steps to ensure continued operations conform to applicable standards and recommendations.”
State Sen. Geraldine Thompson, who represents Orlando, stood alongside Fried in advocating for new legislation to improve ride safety.
“When the millions of people who visit Florida come to this state, we want them to know that there is oversight, that there is accountability, that there are inspections, that there are requirements for training,” Thompson said.
This story was originally published November 23, 2022 at 5:51 PM.
