ORLANDO, Fla. — Brian Avery, a theme park safety expert with 30 years of experience, has reviewed dozens of accidents and served as an expert witness in court cases nationwide.
The death of a 14-year-old boy on the Orlando Free Fall at the ICON Park entertainment complex is “uncharted territory,” he said, because ride operators are accused of tampering with the ride’s safety mechanisms.
A report released by the state Monday showed that safety sensors on two of the ride’s harnesses were modified so the harnesses opened almost double the range of those on other seats. Tyre Sampson sat in one of those seats late March 24, the report said, and the boy from St. Louis fell to his death when he slipped out through the gap formed between the harness and the seat.
