Kansas City, Kansas, police say a 10-year-old boy who was killed while riding the world's tallest water slide died of a neck injury. The judge also sided with defense attorneys who complained that grand jurors were presented additional evidence that related to a death from a different Schlitterbahn waterpark, reports KMBC. 2023 Update, Inside Teen Moms Ryan and Mackenzie Edwards' Relationship Timeline, Find Out Which 'Teen Mom OG' and 'Teen Mom 2' Couples Are Still Together. Along the way, riders clutch ropes along the inside of the raft. 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. That is, until August 7, 2016, when the raft that 10-year-old Caleb Schwab was riding went airborne and hit a metal pole supporting a safety net, resulting in his decapitation and instant death. Sara Craig, who took her 14-year-old son and his friend to the park on Wednesday said: "I feel guilty having fun when a family is hurting so badly.. Ken Martin, a Richmond, Virginia-based amusement park safety consultant, questioned whether the straps were appropriate for what he called "nothing more than a roller coaster with water.". When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 6, See Sister Wives Christine and BF Davids Cutest Moments: Photos, Inside '90 Day Fiance Stars Memphis and Hamzas Custody Battle, Gone Too Soon! 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. Each strap is held in place by long Velcro-style straps, not by buckles. T he death of a 10-year-old Kansas boy, who was decapitated on the world's tallest water slide over the weekend, has revived calls for change in the . The slide's name means "insane" in German. Water Slide Death | Women in Raft With Victim Speak Out ABC News 14.1M subscribers Subscribe 1.7M views 6 years ago Hannah Barnes and Matraca Baetz both suffered facial injuries during the. In 2012, the Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry, together with the senior designer John Schooley, fast-tracked Verrckts construction to coincide with an appearance on a reality TV show about amusement parks. A young childs life was lost and his troubling death was mourned by family, friends and the entire Kansas community and beyond.. Caleb Schwab, 10, was killed in an accident on a ride at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas, his family said on August 7, 2016. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. In February, a judge dismissed the charges against Henry and Schooley. AUGUST 9, 2016 REPORT: It's called "the world's tallest water slide," and it reaches higher than the Statue of Liberty and Niagara Falls. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, The horrific events incident happened onthe 'Verruckt'ride and the boy's brother saw it, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Caleb Schwab, 10, died in front of his family while riding a 168ft-high water slide in Kansas at Schlitterbahn Water Park. All rights reserved. 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. A showcase of cinematic short documentary films, curated by The Atlantic. The slide's name means "insane" in German. Riders plummeted down the nearly vertical 17-story chutetaller than Niagara Fallsat speeds up to 70. 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 . Multiple injuries were reported before his incident. Judge Burns also wrote that the jurors heard expert testimony that suggested, incorrectly, that the slides designers did not adhere to legal standards, and that the expert mentioned another, unrelated death at the Schlitterbahn park in Texas. A lawyer who represented the Schwab family did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday. KANSAS CITY, Kansas (WPVI) -- 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. I wouldn't be surprised if they lack regulations on safety harnesses as well. Riders sit in multi-person rafts that begin with the steep drop, followed by a surge up a second hill before a 50-foot descent to a finishing pool. Riders plummeted down the nearly vertical 17-story chutetaller than Niagara Fallsat speeds up to 70 miles per hour. A memorial service is planned for Friday afternoon. He said Caleb was a hugger who loved his parents, sports and Jesus. The slide is 168 feet and has 264 stairs leading to the top -- taller than the Statue of Liberty. They were not related to the boy. ", In fact, even Henry told USA Today upon riding the Verrckt, "I'm still recovering mentally. — -- 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. Miles, said there is no question that Fridays ruling about what occurred before the grand jury was correct and the judges reasoning legally sound.. As investigators continue to look for answers, chilling new video has emerged - detailing the dangers of the. German for insane, Verrckt was designed to challenge the laws of physics. KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Verruckt ride will remain closed while the accident is investigated; the rest of the park is tentatively scheduled to reopen on Wednesday. The slide's name means "insane" in German. An attorney for ride designer Schooley, Justin Johnston, told the Times: "We don't 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.". Caleb Schwab died Sunday on a slide at the . The pair had hoped to ride the "World's Largest Waterslide" together. In Touch Weekly is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. He described a horrific scene after the boy's death. Inside the Prize! "Caleb was a 10-year-old child, but in many ways, he was a man of God," Sprague said. A promotional video about building the slide includes footage of two men riding a raft down a half size test model and going slightly airborne as it crests the top of the first big hill. He said Caleb was a hugger who loved his parents, sports and Jesus. Jeffrey Henry, co-owner of the park, and John Schooley, the lead designer of the ride, have been charged with second-degree murder and face charges of aggravated endangerment of a child and aggravated battery. Following the unspeakable accident, the park immediately shut down. Had he begged his parents for weeks? Pastor Clint Sprague, the family spokesperson for the Schwab family said they're heartbroken. edit to add: From CNN's article - "Its height of 168 feet 7 inches is 5 feet taller than the previous record holder, a water slide at a Rio de Janeiro country . According to the police report, Caleb Schwab died of a neck injury and was decapitated while riding the 168-foot Verruckt water slide. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! * Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? All rights reserved. The two women riding in the raft with Caleb suffered minor facial injuries. The slide's name means "insane" in German. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. WARNING: The details in this story are graphic and may not be suitable for all readers. or redistributed. He said there were two women sitting in the back of the raft with blood on them. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The Verrckt slide in Kansas is billed as the world's tallest water slide. It's important to point out that before riders (who must be at least 54 inches tall) board the raft, a park employee reads them a two-page safety warning. The slide's name means "insane" in German. "[Nathan] was screaming, 'He flew from Verrckt, he flew Verrckt,'" Caleb's mother said. Had either of the parents ridden the slide before? According to the Huffington Post, the lawsuit (filed at Wyandotte County District Court in Kansas City) states, Due to Henry and Schooleys lack of expertise and a desire to rush the timeline, they skipped fundamental steps in the design process. The lawsuit continues, In place of mathematical and physics calculations, they rushed forward relying almost entirely on crude trial-and-error methods., Allegations are surfacing that multiple neck and head injuries were reported to the park before Calebs death, only to be hidden from law enforcement investigating the fatal incident. Riders go down the slide in multi-person rafts and have to be at last 54 inches tall, according to the park's website. Legal Statement. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The slide's name means "insane" in German. Someone else who had ridden the Verrckt (which is named after the German word for "insane") earlier that day claims the Velcro on her seat belt came undone toward the end of the experience. A memorial service is planned for Friday afternoon. The designer of a Kansas waterslide that decapitated a 10-year-old boy was taken into custody after he arrived at a Texas airport late Monday, U.S. A water park company's co-owner was arrested Monday in Texas in connection with a Kansas criminal case arising from a 10-year-old boy's death on what was promoted as the world's largest waterslide. The slide is 168 feet and has 264 stairs leading to the top -- taller than the Statue of Liberty. Fellow rider Jess Sanford, from Lincoln, Nebraska, told CNN: When I heard a noise that didn't sound like it was supposed to come from that kind of ride, that's when I turned around. The park reopened on Wednesday except for a large section that includes the waterslide, although its looming profile greeted visitors when they drove through the entrance. The water park passed a private inspection in June that included Verruckt, according to a document released by a Kansas state agency. I obviously recognize that the circumstances and events giving rise to these indictments are indisputably tragic, Judge Burns wrote. The deadly accident happened Sunday at the Schlitterbahn Water Park. Caleb Thomas Schwab, the son of Rep. Scott Schwab, died on the 17-story. "It . The boy's parents Republican state Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife, Michele have not spoken publicly since the death. They saw a trail of blood follow Caleb Schwabs raft after he was hurled from it into safety netting, suffering catastrophic injuries. The slide is 168 feet tall and has 264. - Claiming corporate executives were rushed, careless and lacked expertise to design a thrill ride . In early tests, rafts carrying sandbags flew off the slide, prompting engineers to tear down half of the ride and reconfigure some angles. This is likely where Caleb had been sitting. Market data provided by Factset. Castaneda said he had ridden the slide earlier in the day with his cousin's 14-year-old daughter. Caleb Thomas Schwab, the son of Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab, was killed Sunday while riding "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. My first thought was that it must have been a freak accidentwhat a horrible, horrible story, Truesdell told me. Castaneda, who said he hasn't been interviewed by police, said that he started running toward the slide, then heard a lifeguard yelling and a boy screaming hysterically. Judge Dismisses Charges in Boys Decapitation on 170-Foot-Tall Water Slide, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/24/us/water-slide-death-charges.html. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. After the tragedy, prosecutors led a Wyandotte County grand jury to approve charges of second-degree murder. Family took photos of friend's snapped harness; Details on 'Fox & Friends'. KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) The young son of a Kansas state lawmaker died Sunday on a water slide that is billed as the world's largest, according to officials and the boy's family. I was hired as an admissions cashiertaking payment and . Several passengers who rode the waterslide where a 10-year-old boy was decapitated Sunday said that the rides Velcro-like straps would come loose, and that at least one lifeguard claimed they were just for show. He was found dead at the bottom of the slide, and the two . 'I'm not supposed to be here': Penn doc on mission to find treatments, PennDOT worker remains seriously injured after hit-and-run. They said all rides are inspected daily before opening. 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. "You don't think you're gonna die.". A memorial service is planned for Friday afternoon. He described a horrific scene after the boy's death. The two women in his raft, who were not related to Caleb, suffered minor injuries, police said. 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. "I think we have a serious issue with the restraint system. LPBW's Audrey and Jeremy Roloff's Family Trip to Disneyland: See Photos, 90 Days Vanessa Gives Update on Colts Recovery from Scary Accident, SAG Awards 2023 Red Carpet: Photos of the Best and Worst Dressed Stars, The Ette Hotel Brings The White Lotus World To Life: Get Details, Farrah Abrahams Daughter Sophia Gets 6 Piercings for Her 14th Birthday, Meet Return to Amishs Sabrinas Newborn: Cutest Photos of Baby No. The lifeguard looked at me and assured me that its really not a big deal, she told Fox News. But on Friday a judge dismissed the charges and said prosecutors had submitted improper evidence.. Police said Caleb suffered a fatal neck injury. 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 story, it turned out, was one of gross negligence, lax state regulations, and the consequences of hubris. Riders, who must be at least 54 inches tall, were harnessed with two nylon seatbelt-like straps one that crossed the rider's lap, the other stretching diagonally like a car shoulder seatbelt. Castaneda said two other woman were strapped into the raft, and the first position of the raft was empty. She had told him her safety belt's Velcro came undone toward the end of her ride. On Friday, a state court judge threw out those charges. ABC News talked with Esteban Castaneda, who. All Rights Reserved. I know I will. Henry and Schooley were ultimately indicted on charges of aggravated battery, aggravated endangerment of a child, interference with law enforcement, and involuntary manslaughter. 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. 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