The family of a Florida teen who was killed in a shocking amusement park accident caught on camera was awarded $310 million in damages.
Tyre Sampson, 14, was on Icon Park in Orlando's FreeFall ride, a 400-foot tall drop tower described as the "world's tallest," when he slipped out of his seat and died after falling more than 100 feet in a tragic incident that was caught on camera.
An investigation found that Sampson was 100 pounds over the weight limit and his seat was manually adjusted to accommodate his size, FOX 35 reported.
His parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit in April 2022 against the Austria-based ride manufacturer, Funtime, Icon Park and the ride's owner, Eagle Drop Slingshot. They reached a settlement in March 2023 and after one day of deliberating, were awarded $310 million by a Florida jury.
"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," Ben Crump, the family's attorney, said in a statement obtained by FOX 35.
Representatives from Funtime chose not to appear in court, to the dismay of Sampson's family.
"I wanted them to face me, to apologize. I got none of that—no apologies, no anything," Nekia Dodd, Sampson's mother, told FOX 35.
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