ORLANDO, FLORIDA (AP) – A Missouri teenager died of blunt force trauma after falling from a 130-metre Florida drop-tower amusement park ride, according to an autopsy released on Monday.
The report by the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office also ruled that 14-year-old Tyre Sampson’s death in March was an accident.
Sampson slipped out of his seat about halfway down the Free Fall ride located in a tourist area of Orlando. The autopsy showed that Sampson weighed 173 kilogrammes when he died.
Sampson was in Orlando with a friend’s family for vacation and his size has been examined as a potential factor.
An initial report by outside engineers hired by the Florida Department of Agriculture said sensors on the ride had been adjusted manually to double the size of the opening for restraints on two seats, resulting in Sampson not being properly secured.
Sampson’s parents have sued the ride’s owner, manufacturer and landlord, saying they were negligent and failed to provide a safe amusement ride.
