Orlando, FL. –– Nationally renowned personal injury attorneys Ben Crump of Ben Crump Law and Bob Hilliard of Hilliard Martinez Gonzales have been separately retained by the parents of Tyre Sampson, 14, a star 8th grade football player and A student who fell to his death Thursday night from the Free Fall ride at Orlando’s ICON Park. The ride has been described as the world’s tallest freestanding drop tower.
The Free Fall lifts riders to the top of a 430-foot tower, tilting them to face the ground as they fall nearly 400 feet at speeds of more than 75 mph, according to ICON Park’s
website. The legal team is asking anyone who was on the ride at the time or who witnessed the incident to call 866-428-8209 and send photos or videos to: [email protected].
Attorney Ben Crump, hired by Tyre’s father, Yarnell Sampson, has released the following statement:
“This family is shocked and heartbroken at the loss of their son. 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. Needless to say, his family is absolutely devastated. A fun theme park visit with his football team should not have ended in tragedy. Bob Hilliard and I, on behalf of both parents, Yarnell and Neki, intend to get answers for Tyre’s grieving family and request prayers as they shoulder this unthinkable loss.”
Attorney Bob Hilliard, hired by Tyre’s mother, Nekia Dodd, has released the following statement:
“Families have a right to expect these national theme parks, making millions of dollars, will keep their children safe and will put that safety above all else. Every parent who sees this horrific video can’t help but think the same thing, ‘That could have been my child.’ What unimaginable terror did 14-year-old Tyre experience as he slipped out of his unsecured harness and fell helplessly towards his own death?”
