Orlando ride maintenance tech alleges safety issues were ignored before teen fell to his death in 2022: suit

A antheral who utilized to enactment arsenic a attraction technician for the now-closed FreeFall thrust astatine Orlando's ICON Park is alleging that information issues with the thrust were ignored successful the weeks earlier a teen fell to his decease successful March 2022.

In a suit filed connected Wednesday, erstwhile technician Austin Campbell-Alexander said helium noticed "safety issues with the seats and wide structural integrity" of the FreeFall Drop Tower sometime astir January 2022 – a mates of months earlier 14-year-old Tyre Sampson died from falling disconnected the ride.

The suit is filed against Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot, the proprietor and relation of the ride, and different affiliated companies, not ICON Park.

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Tyre Sampson, 14, died successful March 2022 erstwhile a spot connected the Orlando FreeFall astatine ICON Park failed to unafraid him, causing him to autumn much than 100 feet. (Fox 35 Orlando)

The erstwhile tech "learned that the seats associated with the FreeFall thrust were being manually bypassed by 1 of the operations managers" erstwhile the thrust opened, according to the suit obtained by FOX 35 Orlando. The manager was allegedly utilizing a replacement sensor for 2 seats truthful that they could "accommodate larger patrons implicit definite tallness and value limits."

"Such an override was knowingly unsafe to the nationalist arsenic the FreeFall ride's shaper acceptable value and tallness limits for riders," the suit stated.

Fox News Digital antecedently reported that an operating manual for the thrust stated the maximum rider value was conscionable implicit 286 pounds. 

Campbell-Alexander said helium reported the "illegal and unsafe practice" to his supervisor, though the thrust "continued operation" extracurricular of shaper guidelines.

The Orlando FreeFall was dismantled successful March 2023 aft its imperishable closure was announced successful October 2022. (Fox 35 Orlando)

He besides reported that helium received nary grooming for his presumption arsenic a attraction tech and believed that was the aforesaid for different employees liable for "patron information oregon the harmless operation/maintenance of the thrust itself."

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According to the lawsuit, determination were a fistful of moments erstwhile information issues arose with the ride, yet the thrust remained unfastened "when it should person been closed to guarantee patron safety."

In March 2022, Campbell-Alexander said helium and different worker noticed that a metallic cylinder liable for locking riders successful their seats was "too hot," making it imaginable for the seats to not beryllium secured properly. A fewer days later, they besides noticed cracks successful the joints of the gondolas, which clasp and transport each seats connected the ride.

The FreeFall driblet operation thrust astatine Icon Park successful Orlando, Florida, being inspected connected Feb. 23, 2023.  (Mom & Paparazzi for Fox News Digital)

Sampson fell to his decease connected March 24, 2022, due to the fact that helium was implicit the ride's bounds astatine 6-foot-5 and astir 360 pounds, causing the spot to not beryllium latched erstwhile the thrust dropped 400 feet astatine speeds upwards of 75 mph, authorities investigators said aft the incident.

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During an probe aft Sampson's death, Campbell-Alexander said that helium was asked to "back-fill blank attraction logs and motion disconnected connected definite attraction tasks" arsenic if helium and a coworker had performed them.

The FreeFall thrust was inspected earlier it was wholly dismantled. (Mom & Paparazzi for Fox News Digital)

He said helium objected to "fraudulently affirm" that helium performed definite tasks, which resulted successful him being placed connected paid permission and booted from the premises. He said helium remained connected permission portion the defendants attempted to resoluteness a civilian suit with Sampson's family, and erstwhile that was settled, helium was fired connected March 31, 2023.

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The instrumentality steadfast representing Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot sent a connection connected Campbell-Alexander's suit to FOX 35, alleging that the erstwhile tech was the 1 who adjusted sensors connected the ride, which resulted successful his firing.

"Our clients promptly investigated the tragic mishap that resulted successful the decease of Tyre Sampson. Upon discovering that Mr. Campbell-Alexander adjusted the sensors that resulted successful the accident, helium was suspended and relieved of immoderate further engagement oregon entree to immoderate rides," Trevor Arnold and Brian Bieber, GrayRobinson, PA said. 

"Upon learning of Mr. Campbell-Alexander’s and different employees’ conduct, we proactively notified investigating authorities.  At each times, we cooperated with the investigators. We worked diligently to resoluteness the litigation and claims with Tyre’s household arsenic good arsenic the administrative agencies involved. Mr. Campbell-Alexander’s claims are successful nonstop struggle with statements helium provided pursuing the accident, which volition nary uncertainty beryllium demonstrated successful Court."