The family of a Missouri teen who fell over 200 feet to his death while riding a Florida amusement park thrill attraction was awarded $310 million for the 2022 freak accident, as the heartbroken parents blasted the ride maker for not showing up at the trial.
Tyre Sampson’s grieving parents sat inside an Orlando courthouse Thursday as Austrian-based amusement ride manufacturer Funtime Handels was ordered to pay for the teen’s wrongful death.
The family emotionally celebrated as the verdict marked the end of the nearly three-year court ordeal.
“Today we got our day in court — this $310 million verdict sends a message, a great message for accountability,” family attorney Ben Crump said, according to Fox 35 Orlando.
Funtime was ordered to pay two separate $155 million totals to Sampson’s mother, Mekia Dodd, and father, Yarnell Sampson.
Sampson, 14, had traveled to the Sunshine State with some friends for spring break when the group visited ICON Park on March 24, 2022.
The high school football standout who was well over 300 pounds was allowed to ride the Orlando FreeFall despite being 98 pounds over the ride’s 287-pound limit and park staff needing to adjust his seat manually for him to fit.
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