Parents Of NJ Teen Killed At Six Flags Settle Lawsuit

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — The family of a 19-year-old Middletown teen who was killed in an accident while working at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2017 reached a $1.7 million settlement in their wrongful death lawsuit, New Jersey Law Journal reported.

Patch wrote about the tragic death of Justin Dill of Belford when it happened: Dill, who grew up in Middletown, was a 2016 graduate of Middletown High School North and was training to be an electrician.

The young man was an apprentice with the electricians' union at Great Adventure. Early in the morning, 6:30 a.m., on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017 Dill was at the park, stringing up lights.

That was when he was hit by the front tire of an aerial work platform, according to NJ Law Journal.

"Dill was acting as a spotter, walking beside the machine, when the tire hit him and rolled on top of him," read their report.

The work platform was driven by another Six Flags employee, who reversed the machine back off of him. Dill was rushed by helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he died the next day from his injuries. He died surrounded by his family.

The Dill family hired Peter Chamas of Gill & Chamas in Woodbridge to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the company that rented the work platform to Six Flags.

Chamas and the Dill family alleged that the company did not correctly train Six Flags’ employees to use the machine safely.

The lawsuit was resolved in mediation and the $1.7 million settlement was reached in late July, according to the report. The money will go to Dill's parents.

Dill had also graduated from the electrical program at Monmouth County Vocational School. He was a member of Middletown Boy Scouts, and enjoyed camping, fishing and gaming. He was also a member of St. Catherine's youth group.

At the time of his death, many in Middletown released statements of support for his family. This GoFundMe was also created.

"Justin was so smart, funny, and unique and I loved having him in my class at Middletown High School North," teacher Lindsay Rath said in a condolence left on his obituary.

"(Justin) was an all-around nice student and will be fondly remembered by the High School North community," Middletown North Principal Patricia Vari-Cartier said. "Justin possessed a good sense of humor and was always polite and respectful. He particularly enjoyed his culinary arts class and was very creative in the kitchen. He was very serious about his studies in the vocational program for electricity."

"(Justin) was an amazing person," said Austin Blaylock, who knew him through online gaming. "(He) has had a huge impact on the people that he was around and we miss him a lot."

Initial Patch report: Middletown Teen Who Died In Six Flags Accident Remembered As Funny, Amazing, Well-Liked (Sept. 2017)

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