A man who once worked as a maintenance technician now Idol Park in Orlando The safety issues accused of the ride were ignored in March 2022 weeks before his death.
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, former technician Austin Campbell-Alexander said he noticed “safety issues and overall structural integrity” of the free-fall tower around January 2022 – sometime in January 2022 – months before 14-year-old Tire Sampson died in the fall.
The lawsuit is targeting the owners and operators of the ride and other affiliates instead of the Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot at Icon Park.
Tire Sampson, 14, died in March 2022 when Icon Park’s Orlando freefall seat failed to secure his seat, causing him to fall more than 100 feet. (Fox 35 Orlando)
The former tech “learned that seats associated with freefall rides were bypassed manually by one of the operations managers”, according to the opening of the ride. Fox 35 Orlando. Managers allegedly used replacement sensors to perform two seats so that they “can accommodate larger customers at certain height and weight limitations.”
“Such alternatives are consciously dangerous to the public because the free-fall manufacturers set the weight and height limits for riders,” the lawsuit said.
Fox News Digital had previously reported that the operation manual for the ride said the maximum passenger weighed just over 286 pounds.
Campbell-Alexard said he reported “illegal and unsafe exercises” to supervisors, although the trip continues Operations outside of the Manufacturer Guide.
After the permanent closure was announced in October 2022, Orlando Free Fall was demolished in March 2023. (Fox 35 Orlando)
He also reported that he had not been trained in maintaining technical positions and believed that the same was true for other employees responsible for “customer safety or safety actions/maintenance itself.”
According to the lawsuit, there are several moments Security issues arise. However, the ride remains open and “should be closed when it is to ensure the safety of the customers.”
In March 2022, Campbell-Alexander said he and another employee noticed that the metal cylinder responsible for locking the rider in the seat was “too hot”, which made the seat not properly secured. A few days later, they also noticed cracks in the gondola joints, which occupied and transported all seats during the ride.
Ride on Freefall Drop Tower at Icon Park in Orlando, Florida on February 23, 2023. (Fox News Digital Mom and Paparazzi)
After the incident, Sampson fell to his death on March 24, 2022, as his limit exceeded 6-foot-5, about 360 pounds, which caused the seat not to be locked when it dropped 400 feet at 75 mph.
Teenager’s family died after falling after falling
In an investigation after Sampson’s death, Campbell-Alexander said he was asked to “backfill in blank maintenance logs and sign certain maintenance tasks” as if he and a colleague had performed them.
Checked for free fall riding before completely dismantling. (Fox News Digital Mom and Paparazzi)
He said he opposed “fraudulent affirmation” that he performed certain tasks, which resulted in him being paid leave and initiated from there. He said he was still on leave when the defendant tried to resolve it Civil litigation With Sampson’s family, he was fired on March 31, 2023 once settled.
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The law firm representing the Orlando Eagle Drop issued a statement to Fox 35 about the Campbell-Alexander lawsuit, saying the former technology was the one who adjusted the sensors in the ride, causing his shooting.
“Our clients quickly investigated the tragic accident that caused the death of Tire Sampson. It was discovered that Mr. Campbell Alexander adjusted the sensors that caused the accident, he was suspended and eased any further involvement or access to any ride,” Trevor Arnold and Brian Arnold, Brian Arnold, Brian Arnold, Brian Bieber, Brian Bieber, Brian Bieber, Brian Bieber, Brian Bieber Bieber, Brian Bieber, Brian Bieber, Pa said.
“After learning about the conduct of Mr. Campbell Alquezd and other employees, we proactively inform the investigative agency. We always work with investigators. We work hard to resolve litigation and litigation and claims with Tire’s family and the administrative agencies involved.
