ORLANDO, Fla. — Ten days before the first anniversary of 14-year-old tourist Tyre Sampson’s death on the Orlando Free Fall drop tower at ICON Park, cranes began arriving at the ride to start taking it down.
On Tuesday morning, workers placed weights on a telescoping crane that would eventually extend to reach the top of the 430-foot drop tower as a second crane lifted other components nearby. A fence encircled the ride and blocked off parts of the nearby sidewalk and road.
The ride’s gondola, holding its harnesses and seats, rested at the foot of the tower behind a smaller barrier. It was still attached to the ride as the construction crew prepared the area.
