FL Park Dismantles FreeFall Ride Responsible For MO Teen's Death

ORLANDO, FL — Workers began dismantling the Orlando FreeFall this week, nearly a year after a 14-year-old Missouri boy fell to his death while riding the 400-foot-tall attraction at the city's ICON Park.

On Wednesday, a gigantic crane was spotted near the ride where Tyre Sampson died, according to an Associated Press report. A fence enclosed the ride and blocked off parts of the nearby sidewalk and road.

The process of tearing down the ride was expected to take several days, The AP reported.

Sampson, a Missouri middle school student and football player, was on spring break and died on March 24 when he was thrown from the Orlando FreeFall. The teen fell at least 100 feet, according to previous reports.

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Sampson died of blunt force trauma, according to the autopsy. He suffered fractures to his face, ribs, pelvis, right arm, and left leg, and he also experienced multiple hemorrhages, lacerations to his liver and spleen, and perforation of the stomach.

Sampson weighed 383 pounds at the time of his death, his autopsy said, while the maximum passenger weight allowed on the Orlando FreeFall ride is just over 286 pounds, according to its manual.

An initial report commissioned by the Florida Department of Agriculture said sensors on the ride were adjusted manually to double the size of the opening for restraints on two seats, resulting in the teen not being properly secured, according to The AP.

A month after his death, Sampson’s parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the park, ride operator, and manufacturer, claiming it was negligence that caused their son to fall from the drop-tower ride, which reaches speeds of 75 mph.

In October, Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot, the owner of the Orlando FreeFall, announced it would take down the ride. The company said the decision resulted directly from Sampson's death.