Skip to content
Broken Trust, Broken Lives: Fighting for Ride Victims
A technician in Orlando warned about a thrill ride’s safety flaws. His bosses didn’t care. Then, 14-year-old Tyre Sampson fell to his death on the Orlando Free Fall at Icon Park in 2022. This gut-wrenching story broke on WESH and Fox News, and it’s a red flag for anyone who trusts amusement rides. At Kaiser Romanello Accident and Injury Attorneys, we stand with victims of negligence. When fun turns deadly, we fight for you. Let’s dive into what went wrong and how we can help.
A Teen’s Tragic Fall
Tyre Sampson was a football star from St. Louis, visiting Orlando for spring break. He was 6 foot 2 and 380 pounds. On March 24, 2022, he hopped on the Orlando Free Fall. The ride’s harness didn’t lock because of his size. It dropped 430 feet, and he fell 70 feet to the ground. He didn’t survive. It’s awful—and it could’ve been stopped.
Safety Flags Raised and Ignored
Austin Campbell-Alexander worked as a maintenance tech for the Free Fall. In January 2022, he spotted trouble. Cracked metal joints, overheated cylinders, and tweaked sensors caught his eye. Those sensors let bigger riders on, past safe limits. He told his bosses at Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot. They shrugged it off.
A Cover-Up After the Crash
Post-accident, the cover-up kicked in. Campbell-Alexander says managers pushed him to sign off on undone tasks. He refused to lie. They put him on paid leave, then canned him in 2023 after settling with Tyre’s family. Fox News notes the ride’s manual capped weight at 286 pounds—Tyre was over the safety weight limit. State investigators confirmed his harness didn’t latch due to his size. Negligence ran deep.
Trust Shattered at Theme Parks
You’ve ridden coasters, right? You trust the operators to keep you safe. But some chase cash over care. They dodge rules and skip training. Campbell-Alexander got no training either. When they fail, kids like Tyre pay the price. We see this at Kaiser Romanello too often. It leaves families hurting. We turn that pain into a fight for justice.
Negligence Isn’t Just a Word
Negligence means failing at your job to protect people. Here, operators knew the risks. They tweaked sensors and ignored cracks. They let untrained staff run a 430-foot drop tower. Accidents hit thousands yearly—some minor, some deadly. If a ride hurt you, don’t sit quiet. We’ll dig in and hold them accountable.
We’ve Got Your Back
After a crash, life gets heavy. Bills pile up. Pain sticks around. Losing someone hurts worst. You ask, “Who’s fixing this?” We do. At Kaiser Romanello, we chase the truth—logs, reports, witnesses. We take on big park owners with grit and heart. You’re not alone in this mess.
Call Kaiser Romanello Today
Tyre’s death screams for change. His family settled with operators and won $310 million from the ride’s maker. Campbell-Alexander seeks over $50,000 for his ordeal. These wins matter. You deserve safe rides too. If negligence hit you, call Kaiser Romanello Accident and Injury Attorneys at 844-877-8679. We’ll hear you out and fight hard. Call 844-877-8679 now—let us carry the load.
