Florida in general and Orlando in particular are popular tourist destinations. The region has many theme parks and other attractions that bring people in from all corners of the globe. Unfortunately, with so many people enjoying the rides at these amusement parks, accidents are bound to happen. One accident occurred recently at a theme park in Orlando and claimed the life of a teenage boy.
Accident details
On Thursday, March 24, a 14-year-old boy was with his family at Orlando’s ICON theme park. The teen wanted to take the park’s Orlando Free Fall ride, and he got on the attractions around 11 p.m. that night. Tragically, the boy slipped from his safety harness during the ride and plummeted to his death, hitting the ground at an estimated 75 mph.
Reports state that the boy’s harness was not fully secured. Furthermore, the ride apparently did not have clip-in seatbelts for an added measure of protection. Several other park patrons had expressed their disbelief that the ride had no seatbelts. It is unclear whether the ride operator checked to make sure the boy’s safety harness was fully engaged and locked in place before sending the ride up; however, a photo taken of the boy moments before the accident apparently shows his harness was not fully pulled down and secured.
Investigation and wrongful death
Authorities are investigating the accident and the safety protocols the park has in place. If they confirm they ride operator did not properly secure the harness and the ride had no seatbelts to begin with, the surviving family members may be able to use that information as evidence in a wrongful death claim against the park. To help their cause, they will want to work closely with an experienced personal injury attorney in Florida who can help them obtain the best outcome possible regarding compensation and holding the park accountable for negligence.
