The defendants included Jeffrey W. Henry, a co-owner of Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts, which is based in Texas; John T. Schooley, a designer of the slide; and Tyler Austin Miles, a former operations director. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. But no matter the reason Caleb ultimately boarded the raft, no one in their worst nightmare would imagine a trip to an amusement park ending this way. His funeral is scheduled for Friday. The slide is also inspected daily. In 2017, Calebs family received a settlement of nearly $20 million from Schlitterbahn and other companies involved in the slide, The Kansas City Star reported. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. At this time, we don't know the circumstances that led to Caleb riding this extreme slide. As his raft soared over the crest, Caleb was tossed toward the netting. He was found dead at the bottom of the slide, and the two . The video, though, is a fictional and dramatized version of events created for entertainment purposes, he wrote, concluding that it should not have been allowed as evidence. TheAtlantic.com Copyright (c) 2023 by The Atlantic Monthly Group. Many questions are, for now, left unanswered. World News | Reuters | Tuesday August 9, 2016 A water park in Kansas was closed on Monday as police investigated the death of a state lawmaker's 10-year-old son on the world's tallest water. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Pastor Clint Sprague, the family spokesperson for the Schwab family said they're heartbroken. In a statement, she said "a limited portion" of the park will reopen at midday Wednesday. I was so happy that Schlitterbahn hired me that I didn't think anything about the tragic accident on the Verrckt water coaster the previous year. The slide, known as Verrckt, which is German for crazy or insane, opened in 2014 and was marketed as the tallest waterslide in the world. Riders are told to hold ropes inside the raft. The video here is a point-of-view shot of the Giant Verrckt Water Slide at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, where the son of a state lawmaker died while plummeting down the 168-foot drop! Kansas City Police also released more information about the incident Monday, calling the boy's death a "fatal neck injury at the end of the ride." Authorities in Kansas were trying to determine Tuesday how a 10-year-old boy suffered a fatal neck injury while riding what is billed as the world's tallest water slide. Police were investigating the death as a criminal case although police spokesman Cameron Morgan said Tuesday that designation did not mean they suspect foul play. They were sending sandbags down and basically hoping that they didn't fly off of the slide. Jeff Henry, Verrckt creator and Schlitterbahn co-owner, told USA Today about the several delays in opening the slide in 2014: "We had many issues on the engineering side. He said Caleb was a hugger who loved his parents, sports and Jesus. Anyone can read what you share. German for insane, Verrckt was designed to challenge the laws of physics. . A witness to the tragic death of a 10-year-old boy on the world's tallest water slide in Kansas has revealed gruesome details of how the boy died. She had told him that her safety belt's Velcro came undone towards the end of her ride. Multiple injuries were reported before his incident. Castaneda said he noticed a lifeguard was trying to push the crowd back from the slide, but he continued to try to help because he thought there was someone lying face down in the water. Castaneda said he had ridden the slide earlier in the day with his cousin's 14-year-old daughter. The two women in Calebs raft sisters who sustained facial injuries and bone fractures also received settlements from the park. Castaneda saw the young victim, Caleb Schwab, lying in the water, but he said a lifeguard told him, "There's nothing you can do.". This is likely where Caleb had been sitting. USA Today reports a full investigation is underway. According to the lawsuit, Verrckts design violated nearly all aspects of longstanding industry safety standards.. Also indicted were Henry & Sons Construction Company and KC Waterpark Management, both affiliates of Schlitterbahn. The slide is 168 feet and has 264 stairs leading to the top -- taller than the Statue of Liberty. I remember hearing about the accident on the news and thought that the park was going to shut down. Market data provided by Factset. Caleb Schwab died six years ago in the tragedy at Schlitterbahn Park, in Kansas, on a water slide called Verruckt, which means crazy in German. That was really exciting because we truly didnt know whether we were going to survive it or not, he says. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. Pastor Clint Sprague, the family spokesperson for the Schwab family, said they're heartbroken. Following the unspeakable accident, the park immediately shut down. Two women who are not family members were also in the raft at the time and were treated for facial injuries. Police said Caleb suffered a fatal neck injury. The Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City. Miles, said there is no question that Fridays ruling about what occurred before the grand jury was correct and the judges reasoning legally sound.. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. There wasn't a lot of science or ride engineering involved in the testing and design, Truesdell said. UPDATE: According to The Washington Post, Schlitterbahn Waterpark and former director of operations, Tyler Austin Miles, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and several counts of aggravated battery, aggravated endangering a child, and interference with law enforcement in connection to the death of Caleb Schwab involving the water coaster, Verrckt. "I didn't think much about it," she said. Ms Craig said that during her first trip down the ride with her son and one of his friends, her shoulder restraint came off, something she opted not to report to park workers. And now, the Verrckt water slide at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas, is the site of a horrible accident, in which 10-year-old Caleb Schwab died Sunday. She had told him her safety belt's Velcro came undone toward the end of her ride. "[Nathan] was screaming, 'He flew from Verrckt, he flew Verrckt,'" Caleb's mother said. The Verrckt German for "crazy" or "insane" had been named the world's tallest waterslide by Guinness World Records. Kansascity.com reported last year that the Schwab family has received a $20 million settlement from the companies involved in Calebs death. Witnesses have described the harrowing moments after a 10-year-old boy was decapitated while riding on the worlds biggest waterslide in Kansas while other riders have told of their safety straps also coming loose . — -- A 10-year-old boy who died on a water slide in Kansas City, Kansas, suffered a fatal neck injury, officials said, as a witness recounted the "horrific scene" and the "panic" that erupted in the wake of the incident last Sunday. Riders go down the slide in multi-person rafts and have to be at last 54 inches tall, according to the park's website. Riders are propelled by jets of water as they go over a hump while riding the world's tallest water slide called "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in 2014. was killed Sunday while riding "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. Esteban Castaneda told ABC News he first heard a "boom" on Schlitterbahn Waterpark's Verruckt water slide, which is promoted as the world's tallest. WARNING: The details in this story are graphic and may not be suitable for all readers. Each strap is held in place by long Velcro-style straps, not by buckles. So they rode it again, only to see the restraint on her son's friend also come loose by the time it was over. Reserved. A young childs life was lost and his troubling death was mourned by family, friends and the entire Kansas community and beyond.. Authorities did not immediately identify the child who died at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas, but state Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife released a statement saying it was their son Caleb Thomas Schwab. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. (David Strickland via AP). other recent tragedies are any indication. KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) A 10-year-old boy was decapitated as he rode a 168-foot tall waterslide at a water park in Kansas, a person familiar with the investigation said Wednesday. Nathan went down the slide first and waited for Caleb at the bottom. Craig described the ride as "very, very rough," so much so that "when I got off, my head hurt.". Caleb was in a raft with two adults who were not related to him when he was killed on the slide, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the worlds tallest. ", In a statement, Schlitterbahn officials said they "are deeply and intensely saddened for the Schwab family and all who were impacted by the tragic accident.". By Elizabeth Chuck. He hit a metal pole and was decapitated. Castaneda said he had ridden the slide earlier in the day with his cousin's 14-year-old daughter. A Kansas water park plans to tear down a giant water slide on which a 10-year-old boy died in 2016. Instead, let's focus our efforts on thinking through all the ways to stay safe at amusement parks, in an effort to prevent anyone else from getting injured or worse in a place that is meant to inspire fun. A memorial service is planned for Friday afternoon. The slide is 168 feet tall and has 264. The park was closed down after the incident Sunday and remained closed Monday. "The indictment said the Verruckt water slide raft at Kansas City's Schlitterbahn Waterpark "went airborne and collided with the overhead hoops and netting" designed to keep . Boy dies on 'world's biggest waterslide' at Kansas park Water slide death: 10-year-old Caleb Schwab is in heaven drinking chocolate milk, says friend An investigation has been launched into. How Much Money Do Survivor Contestants Get Paid? We dont know what the future holds, but hope that with a fresh look at the evidence and law, the parties can find a way to put this matter behind them., Tricia Bath, a lawyer for Mr. After a boy died while riding a nearly 170-foot-tall waterslide in Kansas in 2016, state attorneys brought criminal charges against operators and associates of the water park, accusing them of recklessness. Verruckt was certified as the world's tallest water slide by Guinness World Records. She had told him that her safety belt's Velcro came undone toward the end of her ride. A 10-YEAR-old boy was decapitated while riding a water slide in front of his horrified mom and brother in one of the US' worst theme park tragedies. It was at that point that he noticed the boy appeared to have been decapitated. We want to hear what you think about this article. The corporation behind the Verruckt water slide in Kansas City and a former operations director who is being charged with manslaughter for the death of a 10-year-old boy did not have any proper . Witnesses describe moment they realised boy had died on the waterslide, Boy dies on 'world's biggest waterslide' at Kansas park, Caleb Thomas Schwab posing with his father Scott Schwab, a Kansas state lawmaker, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Water slide death: 10-year-old boy 'was decapitated' after falling from Kansas ride, Kansas waterslide death: Two women also injured in accident that killed 10-year-old boy, Water slide death: 10-year-old Caleb Schwab is in heaven drinking chocolate milk, says friend, Read more Family of two-year-old boy killed by alligator ask for privacy, 'Trail of blood' followed boy decapitated on water slide, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off and extra perks with Booking.com Genius membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 15% off selected items using this eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK February 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this February, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. They were not related to the boy. A memorial service is planned for Friday afternoon. KANSAS CITY, Kansas (WABC) -- A witness to the tragic death of a 10-year-old boy on the world's tallest water slide in Kansas has revealed gruesome details of how the boy died. Castaneda said that he heard booms coming from the area of the slide and then saw a body wash down the slide directly after the raft did. Kansas City Police also released more information about the incident Monday, calling the boy's death a "fatal neck injury at the end of the ride." Caleb Schwab, 10, died in front of his family while riding a 168ft-high water slide in Kansas at Schlitterbahn Water Park. Although he has not seen or ridden Verruckt, Martin said a more solid restraint system that fits over the body - similar to those used in roller coasters - may have been better. 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