The 14-year-old boy who died in March after falling from a ride at an amusement park in Florida was nearly 100 pounds over the weight limit of the attraction, according to an autopsy report obtained by CNN.
The autopsy conducted by the Orange County Medical Examiner concluded that Tyre Sampson, who fell to his death on March 24 while on the Orlando FreeFall drop tower at ICON Park, weighed 383 pounds, which is 97 lbs. over the 286-pound limit.
The report determined that Sampson died of blunt force trauma, with the manner of his death listed as an accident. Sampson suffered numerous fractures, including to the face, skull, ribs, and legs. He also had lacerations to his face, stomach, arms, and feet.
Per Fox 6 Orlando, the Slingshot Group, which operates the Orlando FreeFall ride, issued a statement following the release of the autopsy report.
“The loss of Tyre Sampson was a tragic accident,” the statement read. “We continue to communicate and cooperate with representatives of Tyre’s family, as well as the Department of Agriculture. We are devoted to working with our lawmakers in making lasting safety changes in the amusement park industry.”
The news arrives nearly two months after Sampson’s family filed a lawsuit in April against several defendants, including ICON Park; the Slingshot Group; FreeFall’s manufacturer Funtime Handels; and Gerstlauer Amusement Rides, a Germany-based manufacturer of the ride’s seats and harnesses.
The lawsuit claimed the ride was “unreasonably dangerous,” alleging “negligence” and “strict liability” against all defendants. Sampson’s family is seeking in excess of $30,000 in damages under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act.
“The defendants in Tyre’s case showed negligence in a multitude of ways,” family attorney Ben Crump said in a statement at the time. “From the ride and seat manufacturers and the installer to the owners and operators, the defendants had more than enough chances to enact safeguards, such as seatbelts, that could have prevented Tyre’s death. They didn’t, and their poor decisions resulted in deadly consequences for a promising young man and lifelong pain for his family.”
