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REP. GERALDINE THOMPSON AND AG COMMISSIONER NIKKI FRIED VOW INVESTIGATION INTO RIDE PROTOCOLS ENFORCEMENT.
FREE FALL
ATTORNEY BENJAMIN CRUMP (COURTESY PHOTO)
ing what led to Sampson falling out of his seat on the Orlando FreeFall, Fried said at the news conference. However, the ride has been suspended by its owner — the SlingShot Group — pending the full investigation. And a forensic engineer has been hired “to specifically assist with this investigation,” Fried said. “These engineers are experts in the Legislation could address safety issues field and have previously worked with the department,” she At the press event, Thompson and Florida Agriculture said. Commissioner Nikki Fried declared to take legislative action, if necessary, to offer more authority to the state agency over safety A seat belt ‘could have saved Tyre’s life’ regulations and protocols related to amusement park rides. FDACS has already provided an online folder with reports Fried, a 2022 Democratic gubernatorial candidate, said that and other documents related to the investigation, such as an the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services accident report stating that Sampson died of “multiple injuis fully “committed to finding out what happened” and will ries and trauma” and that his “harness was still in a down and continue to provide a transparent investigation. locked position when the ride stopped.” “Based on our findings … we will immediately make changes “Our department is working diligently to conduct a thorough to our rules if needed under our existing authorities, as well as and transparent investigation into what happened to help prepursue statutory changes with our legislative partners if neces- vent future tragedies,” Fried said during the press conference. “We are pulling back a lot of layers and we are not going to sary,” Fried said. As it stands now, operators of amusement park rides have jump to any conclusions until the facts are known and informaauthority over safety operations and protocols for its rides, tion is provided to us. Because that would not be fair to the family.” Thompson said. The manufacturer of the Orlando FreeFall — Funtime Thrill But that could change based on the findings from the ongoing investigation into Tyre Sampson’s death, Thompson Rides — advocated for no seat belts because of the restraint system in place, according to the 177-page “Operations and explained. “And if there is legislative action that is needed to give Maintenance Manual” released by FDACS. “It has 2 independent locking devices, and the shoulder more authority to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, that’s what we’ll be focused on. Whether restraints are monitored. It is no need for an extra safety or seat that is about training, whether it’s about insurance,” Thompson belt because the seat and the restraint system fulfill more than the requirements,” Hannes Lackner, general manager, wrote in said. And any such legislation will depend on the results from the a letter attached to the manual. But that safety measure could have prevented Sampson’s investigation. “So we will be looking at legislation once we get the report death, Thompson argued. “Based on the investigation, I think it may be that we will following the investigation. … Once we get that report we will know the direction we need to take with regard to legislation,” look at seat belts,” she said. “You and I drive cars that have seat Thompson said. “I’ve committed to filing the ‘Tyre Sampson’ belts and airbags, so I think redundancy is a good thing. And it bill in the Legislature that would address the problems that are may be that the investigation will point out that not only the identified once we get the investigation. At this point, we don’t harness but an additional safeguard, which would have been a seatbelt, could have saved Tyre’s life.” have all of the facts.” At the moment, it’s unclear how long the investigation will This story first appeared at the Florida Phoenix. take, and the agency is still gathering more details surroundfeedback@orlandoweekly.com
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried addresses death of Tyre Sampson in fatal fall; teen’s father hires renowned lawyer Benjamin Crump BY ISSAC MORGAN, FLOR I DA P HOEN I X
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ell-known civil rights attorney Ben Crump has been hired to represent the father of the late Tyre Sampson, the 14-year-old boy who fell to a horrific death at an Orlando amusement park, sparking millions of views on social media. “This family is shocked and heartbroken at the loss of their son,” said Crump, who has an office in Tallahassee. “This young man was the kind of son every parent hopes for — an honor roll student, an aspiring athlete and a kind-hearted person who cared about others.” Crump released a written statement last week announcing that he has been hired by Yarnell Sampson, the teen’s father. A separate attorney, Bob Hilliard, of the Texas firm Hilliard Martinez Gonzales, has been retained by the boy’s mother, Nekia Dodd, according to a statement on Twitter. Crump has represented several families related to Black victims of police brutality by law enforcement, including the families of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, Martin Lee Anderson and Breonna Taylor, according to Crump’s website. During a press conference Friday, state Rep. Geraldine Thompson, a Democrat from Orange County, told reporters she’d been in touch with Crump about ways to prevent future fatal tragedies connected to Florida’s amusement park rides. The Black teen was visiting from Missouri when he appeared to fatally fall from his seat while riding the Orlando FreeFall located at Icon Park last week. Videos emerged on Twitter and other social platforms showing the unimaginable incident. “I am a mother, I am a grandmother, and this pains me,” said Thompson. “So, I’m very concerned and I have been in touch with attorney Ben Crump who represents the family.” Thompson continued, “In consultation with Crump and getting input from the family, they’re not interested so much in fixing blame, as in fixing the problem. And I will be working with them to fix the problem.”
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APRIL 6-12, 2022 ● ORLANDO WEEKLY
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