A trial in the death of a teenager on a local ride is set to begin Thursday in Orange County.
In March 2022, 14-year-old Tyre Sampson fell to his death while riding the FreeFall drop tower ride at ICON Park.
The teen was in Orlando on spring break when he got on the ride that drops riders more than 400 feet. While it was coming down, Sampson slipped out of the harness and crashed into the ground.
A state investigation confirmed what WESH 2 Investigates first reported, that two seats had been adjusted to handle the teen's large size, allowing him to slip out of his seat.
According to the investigation, Sampson weighed about 100 lbs more than the recommended weight for someone to ride the FreeFall drop tower, though that information was not posted anywhere.
The owner was fined and the ride was taken down .
Sampson's family sued ICON Park and the FreeFall's owner, but both parties have settled the lawsuits against them. The only remaining case is the suit against the ride's manufacturer.
On Thursday, the teen's mother, Nekia Dodd, is expected to be in court as her legal team tries to prove a negligence claim against the Austrian ride maker, Funtime Handels.
The lawsuit says the company made a dangerous ride and did not do enough to minimize that danger.
"This calamity of errors, and mistakes and negligence has crossed over from Europe to Orlando," said Michael Haggard, the Sampson family attorney.
Sampson's parents continue to honor their son's life in various ways. State lawmakers even passed a new law in Tyre's name. Now, his parents persist in their quest for justice to ensure no other family endures this tragedy.
The Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office has yet to decide whether to prosecute anyone criminally in the teen's death.
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