Missouri Teen’s Family Awarded $310 Million After Tragic Amusement Park Death

Tyre’s death occurred on a drop tower ride after his seat harness failed to lock properly. (Courtesy: NBC News)

The family of Tyre Sampson, a 14-year-old Missouri teenager who tragically fell to his death from a Florida amusement park ride in March 2022, has been awarded $310 million in a landmark verdict.

Tyre’s death occurred on a drop tower ride after his seat harness failed to lock properly. Reports later revealed that he exceeded the ride’s size limit, and one of the seats had been manually adjusted to accommodate him. The tragedy shocked the nation, sparking conversations about safety regulations at amusement parks.

The Verdict

Two years after the incident, Tyre’s parents have each been awarded $155 million as part of the $310 million settlement. The family’s attorneys, including renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), calling the verdict “a step forward in holding corporations accountable for the safety of their products.”

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

Public Reactions

News of the settlement has sparked widespread reactions online. Some users expressed relief that the family received justice, while others highlighted the systemic safety failures that led to Tyre’s death.

@noahglenncarter Tyre Sampson’s family is rich after what happened in court #tyresampson #iconpark #foryou ♬ original sound – NoahGlennCarter

@that_salty_vet Jury awards $310 million to parents of teen who was killed in fall from Orlando amusement park ride ???? #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #viralvideo #tyresampson???? #justice ♬ original sound – that_salty_vet

@bbcnews Tyre Sampson fell 100 feet (30m) from the ride which had no seat belts. #Orlando #Florida #ThemePark #AmusementPark #Court #US #BBCNews ♬ original sound – BBC News

A Call for Change

Tyre’s death serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the importance of rigorous safety standards. As his story continues to resonate, the family and their supporters hope this case will push amusement parks and corporations to prioritize safety over profit.

What are your thoughts on this story? Drop some love for Tyre and his family in the comments below.