Despite being rushed to the hospital immediately after the incident, the teenager succumbed to his injuries, leaving his family and the community devastated.
A report from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) detailed that Tyre appeared to have fallen as the ride descended, raising serious concerns about the ride’s safety measures.
Following the heartbreaking loss of their son, Tyre’s parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson, filed a lawsuit against ICON Park and ride manufacturer Funtime. The lawsuit claimed the ride failed to provide proper safety restraints to protect passengers adequately.
Family attorneys Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson shared the news of the verdict on social media, expressing a sense of justice being served.
“Tyre’s legacy will be a safer future for riders everywhere.”
NEWS ALERT: @AttorneyCrump and attorney Natalie Jackson have issued a statement after the jury delivered its $310 million verdict in the civil trial concerning the tragic death of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, who fell from the FreeFall ride at ICON Park in March 2022 pic.twitter.com/WUDj8E40De
— Ben Crump Law, PLLC (@BenCrumpLaw) December 5, 2024
At the time of the accident, ICON Park released a statement expressing their sorrow and confirming their cooperation with authorities during the investigation.
“Tonight, the ICON Park family is grieving because of the tragedy involving Tyre Sampson. Our heartfelt thoughts are with his family and friends. ICON Park is committed to being a place where families can spend quality time together in a safe and fun space,” the statement said.
“We are in close coordination and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement and regulators regarding our tenant, the SlingShot Group.”
