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Trial date set in 'Orlando FreeFall' death
A trial date has been set for the lawsuit involving the company that created the Orlando FreeFall ride. Tyre Sampson fell off that drop tower ride and his mother is suing the manufacturer. Last year, she reached a settlement with the owners of that ride.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Just over two years after the death of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, a trial date has been set for the lawsuit against the manufacturer of the Orlando FreeFall ride.
Sampson's mother Yarnell is suing Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH. Her lawsuit was first filed in April 2022. According to Orange County court records, a jury trial date has been set for January 21, 2025 in Orlando. The trial is estimated to last two to three days.
The then 14-year-old boy, who was visiting Orlando in March 2022 with another family from St. Louis fell off the drop tower ride to his death from more than 100 feet in the air after slipping out of his seat. The ride was dismantled and removed from the property in March 2023, and Yarnell Sampson reached a settlement with the ride owners last year.
A memorial site is pictured outside the Orlando Free Fall drop tower ride at ICON Park in Orlando, Floida, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. Tyre Sampson, 14, died when he fell from the ride. The family is lobbying to have the ride shut down. (Stephen M. D …
Sampson's family continues to back new state laws to keep tragedies like this from happening again.
"Unfortunately, when he passed, I was not there for him so I had to do this," his mother said last year while remembering Tyre on the one-year anniversary of his death. "I didn’t want to come under the circumstances, but I had to do this."
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'Bittersweet day': Tyre Sampson family honors teen 1 year after his death
Many gathered for the bittersweet 1-year anniversary of Tyre Sampson who fell from a Freefall ride at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida. They had a balloon release to honor the teen.
Previous Tyre Sampson coverage
- Tyre Sampson Act, Disney monorail inspection among bills signed into law by Gov. DeSantis
- 'He did not deserve to die': Family of Tyre Sampson honors teen 1 year after death on Orlando FreeFall ride
- ‘Tyre Sampson Act’: Florida lawmakers discuss ride safety bill
- Demolition of Orlando FreeFall starts ahead of anniversary of Tyre Sampson’s fall death
- Orlando Free Fall owner, Slingshot Group, appeals state fine, investigation into Tyre Sampson’s death
- Orlando FreeFall death: Florida leaders announce $250K fine after Tyre Sampson’s deadly fall