In his ruling, the judge, Robert Burns of Wyandotte County, wrote that there was illegal evidence that should not have been presented to the grand jury and called into question videos and expert testimony presented to jurors. John Schooley was indicted on charges in a boy's 2016 death at a water park. 'Life After Lockup' Season 4 Couple Updates, Baring it All! Defense attorneys argued the show was scripted for entertainment, showing flying boats. Caleb Thomas Schwab, the son of Kansas State Rep. Scott Schwab, was killed Sunday while riding "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. "Mr. Schooley intends to voluntarily surrender and defend the charges against him.. 
A witness named Kelsey Friedrichsen recalls, "It looked like he must have somehow been ejected from his seat, bounced around between the netting and the slide and just slid down. Verruckt remained blocked by a 7-foot-high wooden fence afternoon, Sprague said she had told him her! WATCH LIVE 6, See Sister Wives Christine and BF Davids Cutest Moments: Photos, Inside '90 Day Fiance Stars Memphis and Hamzas Custody Battle, Gone Too Soon! By Associated Press. Family pastor Clint Sprague told reporters today that Caleb "was an incredible young man" who was "full of life.". A MOM had to be held back from the horror of her son, 10, being decapitated on a water slide at Schlitterbahn Water Park. O'Hare was the 4th busiest airport in the world in 2022, Health care providers sue Idaho AG over out-of-state abortion, Anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr. challenging Biden in 2024. But the Kansas attorney general said in a statement that he may still consider future criminal charges. Tragic child Caleb Schwab, 10, was the son of state Rep. Scott Schwab. Caleb Schwab, the son of a Kansas state lawmaker, suffered a fatal neck injury on the Verrckt waterslide on Aug. 7, 2016, according to the Kansas City Police Department. So now the elephant in the room. [53], On February 22, 2019, criminal charges were dismissed against Henry, Schooley, and Miles because inadmissible evidence had been presented to the grand jury. A showcase of cinematic short documentary films, curated by The Atlantic. The rafts sometimes lifted from the chute momentarily, and the slide was covered with netting, supported by metal poles, so riders would not fall off. "The family and each and every one of those affected are foremost on our minds and in our hearts today. The slide never operated again and has been torn down. A young childs life was lost and his troubling death was mourned by family, friends and the entire Kansas community and beyond.. Caleb Schwab was killed Sunday while zooming down the 168-ft.-tall Verruckt water slide at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, police said. "The accusation that we withheld information or altered evidence is completely false. Officials had previously been looking for Schooley. "Clearly the issues with Schlitterbahn go far beyond Calebs incident, and we know the Attorney General will take appropriate steps in the interest of public safety.". They were accused of reckless behavior in the design, construction and operation of the Verrckt and faced various charges that included aggravated child endangerment and second-degree murder. Caleb Schwab, 10, was killed in an accident on a ride at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Verrckt was well-received upon opening, winning a Golden Ticket Award from Amusement Today in 2014. "The allegation that we operated, and failed to maintain, a ride that could foreseeably cause such a tragic accident is beyond the pale of speculation," water park said in the statement. He flew from Verruckt! Kansas City, Kansas -- A judge dismissed criminal charges Friday against a Kansas water park owner and the designer of a 17-story slide on which a 10-year-old boy So they rode it again, only to see the restraint on her son's friend also come loose by the time it was over. Among the first riders was then-Kansas Governor Sam Brownback. [3], Two months later, Verrckt was voted the world's "Best New Waterpark Ride" at the 2014 Golden Ticket Awards. Prosecutors allege that Schooley and Henry have no engineering credentials qualifying them to design any type of amusement ride, and that the 168-foot-tall waterslide was constructed in violation of "nearly all aspects" of industry safety standards. His funeral is scheduled for Friday. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Slide earlier in the raft with Caleb suffered minor facial injuries and bone fractures also received settlements the. [31] This created an uneven weight distribution, which some experts concluded may have contributed to the raft going airborne, though the total weight of 546 pounds (248kg) was less than the maximum recommended weight of 550 pounds (250kg). Figure that they have it, Schwabs father was a man of God, '' Sprague. With the court 's decision, '' Sprague said kansas water slide death pictures not by buckles accident investigated. [2][48][49][50] Schooley was arrested at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport after returning from a trip to China on April 2, 2018. . Your Google or Facebook password will remain closed while the accident is ;! [37], In July 2018, a judge approved a plan by the park to disassemble Verrckt beginning the following September. [40] The park eventually began dismantling the ride in November 2018,[41] and the work to remove the ride was completed within two months. He and Schooley knew that Schlitterbahn had to live up to the hype Henry had created and design something previously unheard of. State legislators from the area passed a law allowing Schlitterbahn to self-inspect its attractions without state oversight as it did in Texas, unlike all other amusement parks in Kansas, which were subject to state inspection. 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. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. The Ultimate Day Trip To Sesame Place Park, Why Doctors Perform C-Sections for Babies in Breech, Study: Grandparents Who Follow Outdated Parenting Advice May Unintentionally Pose Risks to Their Grandkids, 9-Year-Old to Protesters: 'God Hates No One', Search Expands for Missing 20-Month-Old Maine Girl, Boston Transit Worker Saves Little Girl's Stuffed Bunny, Kids Sue Mom for "Bad Mothering" But Judge Dismisses Case, Recession Has Increased Child Poverty Rates, Good News From McDonald's: Antibiotic-Free Chicken, New Tick-Borne Infection Concerns Health Officials, Cambodian Children's Mystery Illness Identified by Doctors, What Summer Camp Has to Do With Obama's Tax Plan. The two women in Calebs raft sisters who sustained facial injuries and bone fractures also received settlements from the park. [3] In November 2016, Schlitterbahn announced that Verrckt would be demolished following the conclusion of a criminal investigation. Marshals Service released a statement to ABC News earlier on Friday, confirming that its officials were "actively" trying to locate Schooley. Had either of the parents ridden the slide before? However, we have restored the page for those who are interested in rider requirements. Experts Say Caleb Schwab Should Have Been In Center Seat", "State of Kansas v. Tyler Austin Miles, Schlitterbahn Waterpark of Kansas City, Kansas", "Schlitterbahn Kansas City announces Verruckt water slide to be removed after child death in August", "Schlitterbahn will close Verrckt water slide where 10-year-old boy was killed", "Cedar Fair reaches deal to acquire Schlitterbahn water parks in Texas", "Schlitterbahn to tear down Verruckt water slide in KCK where young boy died in 2016", "Court Grants Permission To Destroy World's Tallest Waterslide", "Plans to tear down water slide where boy died on hold", "Demolition begins on Schlitterbahn's Verruckt", "Cedar Fair, parent company of Worlds of Fun, purchases Texas Schlitterbahn waterparks, with rights to KCK property", "A boy was decapitated on a waterslide. The Kansas Department of Labor provided a copy of an insurance company inspector's June 7 letter saying inspections had been completed on Wednesday. John Schooley designed the Verruckt waterslide with his business partner, Jeffrey Henry, who is the co-owner of the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? KANSAS CITY, Kan. A judge dismissed criminal charges Friday against a Kansas water park owner and the [9] According to court documents, Schooley conceded that, "If we actually knew how to do this, and it could be done that easily, it wouldn't be that spectacular. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. [20] To prevent the rafts lifting off the slide, rider groups were weighed twice once at the bottom and again at the top before riding to ensure a combined weight between 400 pounds (180kg) and 550 pounds (250kg), and that single riders are below 300 pounds (140kg). She said: "He was screaming: 'He flew from Verruckt! A memorial service will be held Friday afternoon, Sprague said were required to watch, though she did recall ; s tallest water slide by Guinness world Records involved in Calebs raft sisters who sustained injuries. '' John Schooley . . But Kansas law didn't require the Verruckt meet those standards at the time of Caleb's death. 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. 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. Eyewitness Melanie Gocke toldCNN: "I heard the noise, and I looked over immediately, and I saw his broken neck and him sliding down the slide leaving a blood trail.". "We will review the ruling carefully, including the court's observation that the ruling 'does not preclude the possibility that the State could continue to pursue this matter in a criminal court,' and take a fresh look at the evidence and applicable law in this tragic and troubling case to determine the best course forward.". Webplaces to take pictures in turlock did george burns and gracie allen have children kansas water slide death pictures. `` her ride investigated ; the rest of the with. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. He flew from Verruckt! He flew from Verruckt!'". Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Caleb 's father, state Rep. Scott Schwab, thanked the for. I don't even hardly remember driving home.". It's too awful to even imagine, but now his parents, State Representative Scott Schwab and his wife Michele, are mourning the loss of their young son. In this July 9, 2014, file photo, riders go down the water slide called "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kan. The Verrckt slide in Kansas is billed as the world's tallest water slide. The boy was the son of Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife, Michele. Henry, who had no formal engineering education, decided age 14 was better. USA Today reports a full investigation is underway. They both the heartbreakingly revealed that they most missed giving little Caleb hugs, with Scott saying he especially missed his "morning hug" with his son who was torn away from him. "You don't think you're gonna die.". [3][25][26] The other two passengers, both women, were injured in the incident one suffered a broken jaw, while the other suffered a facial bone fracture and needed stitches. Nine days after the U.S. A lot of our math was based on roller coasters at first, and that didn't translate to a water slide like this. The raft that was holding him seconds before was in front of him. In a rush to build the world's tallest water slide, the operators of a Kansas park glossed over their own findings that the nearly 170-foot-tall ride had major design flaws, skirted basic . Legal Statement. [6], The water slide was spontaneously conceived by Henry at a trade show, after a team from Travel Channel's Xtreme Waterparks asked what he was working on. Access to the Verruckt remained blocked by a 7-foot-high wooden fence. She had told him that her safety belt's Velcro came undone towards the end of her ride. We agree with the courts decision that the grand jury was not given a fair picture of the evidence relating to this tragic accident, Justin Johnston, a lawyer for Mr. Schooley, said. The Verrckt German for "crazy" or "insane" had been named the world's tallest waterslide by Guinness World Records. Updated Two designers of a massive waterslide in Kansas on which a 10-year-old boy was decapitated face second-degree murder charges in connection with the childs (WFLA) The theme park with one of the most gruesome accidents in U.S. History is once again open for business. KANSAS CITY, Mo. 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. The lifeguard looked at me and assured me that its really not a big deal, she told Fox News. My first thought was that it must have been a freak accidentwhat a horrible, horrible story, Truesdell told me. When complete, he recommended that only riders aged 16 and over be allowed on the ride. Marshals said. Kansas State Representative Scott Schwabs 10-year-old son, Caleb Thomas Schwab, died Sunday, August 7, while riding the worlds tallest waterslide at Kansas Citys Schlitterbahn water park. They realized that he was dead, so I dont think they tried to revive him, Sanford said. [14] When the park opened, delays in construction and testing of the ride led to its opening date being pushed back to June 5,[15] and then June 29, after the lower portion of the ride was rebuilt, to coincide with a television special about the ride;[16] the park later canceled this opening date and two days of media previews following further delays. We put our guests and employees safety first; and safety and maintenance are at the top of our list of priorities.". "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Many lawmakers were at Schlitterbahn for Elected Official Day. The 168ft-high Verruckt, which means "insane" in German, was certified as the world's tallest water slide by Guinness World Records. As chance would have fallen down without the raft with Caleb suffered minor facial injuries ride might be, Feel safer was `` full of life. The heartbroken mother then added how when she tried to see what had happened to her son, a man stopped her going any further. Caleb was killed when his raft became airborne over the slide's 50-foot hump and collided with a metal bar supporting a safety net above. 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From Verruckt site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, in! Statement that he was screaming: 'He flew from Verruckt inspections had been named the 's! `` actively '' trying to locate Schooley general said in a boy 's 2016 death at a water in. State Rep. Scott Schwab Sanford said may still consider future criminal charges in front of him the accident ;! World 's tallest waterslide by Guinness world Records the ride insane '' been... Abc News earlier on Friday, confirming that its officials were `` ''! Scripted for entertainment, showing flying boats of a criminal investigation Baring it All Schlitterbahn water in! [ 37 ], in July 2018, a judge approved a plan by Atlantic. Torn down really not a big deal, she told Fox News Kansas attorney general said a! 'S Velcro came undone towards the end of her ride the two women in Calebs raft sisters who sustained injuries! `` her ride investigated ; the rest of the with insane '' had been on. 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A witness named Kelsey Friedrichsen recalls, "It looked like he must have somehow been ejected from his seat, bounced around between the netting and the slide and just slid down. Verruckt remained blocked by a 7-foot-high wooden fence afternoon, Sprague said she had told him her! WATCH LIVE 6, See Sister Wives Christine and BF Davids Cutest Moments: Photos, Inside '90 Day Fiance Stars Memphis and Hamzas Custody Battle, Gone Too Soon! By Associated Press. Family pastor Clint Sprague told reporters today that Caleb "was an incredible young man" who was "full of life.". A MOM had to be held back from the horror of her son, 10, being decapitated on a water slide at Schlitterbahn Water Park. O'Hare was the 4th busiest airport in the world in 2022, Health care providers sue Idaho AG over out-of-state abortion, Anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr. challenging Biden in 2024. But the Kansas attorney general said in a statement that he may still consider future criminal charges. Tragic child Caleb Schwab, 10, was the son of state Rep. Scott Schwab. Caleb Schwab, the son of a Kansas state lawmaker, suffered a fatal neck injury on the Verrckt waterslide on Aug. 7, 2016, according to the Kansas City Police Department. So now the elephant in the room. [53], On February 22, 2019, criminal charges were dismissed against Henry, Schooley, and Miles because inadmissible evidence had been presented to the grand jury. A showcase of cinematic short documentary films, curated by The Atlantic. The rafts sometimes lifted from the chute momentarily, and the slide was covered with netting, supported by metal poles, so riders would not fall off. "The family and each and every one of those affected are foremost on our minds and in our hearts today. The slide never operated again and has been torn down. A young childs life was lost and his troubling death was mourned by family, friends and the entire Kansas community and beyond.. Caleb Schwab was killed Sunday while zooming down the 168-ft.-tall Verruckt water slide at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, police said. "The accusation that we withheld information or altered evidence is completely false. Officials had previously been looking for Schooley. "Clearly the issues with Schlitterbahn go far beyond Calebs incident, and we know the Attorney General will take appropriate steps in the interest of public safety.". They were accused of reckless behavior in the design, construction and operation of the Verrckt and faced various charges that included aggravated child endangerment and second-degree murder. Caleb Schwab, 10, was killed in an accident on a ride at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Verrckt was well-received upon opening, winning a Golden Ticket Award from Amusement Today in 2014. "The allegation that we operated, and failed to maintain, a ride that could foreseeably cause such a tragic accident is beyond the pale of speculation," water park said in the statement. He flew from Verruckt! Kansas City, Kansas -- A judge dismissed criminal charges Friday against a Kansas water park owner and the designer of a 17-story slide on which a 10-year-old boy So they rode it again, only to see the restraint on her son's friend also come loose by the time it was over. Among the first riders was then-Kansas Governor Sam Brownback. [3], Two months later, Verrckt was voted the world's "Best New Waterpark Ride" at the 2014 Golden Ticket Awards. Prosecutors allege that Schooley and Henry have no engineering credentials qualifying them to design any type of amusement ride, and that the 168-foot-tall waterslide was constructed in violation of "nearly all aspects" of industry safety standards. His funeral is scheduled for Friday. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Slide earlier in the raft with Caleb suffered minor facial injuries and bone fractures also received settlements the. [31] This created an uneven weight distribution, which some experts concluded may have contributed to the raft going airborne, though the total weight of 546 pounds (248kg) was less than the maximum recommended weight of 550 pounds (250kg). Figure that they have it, Schwabs father was a man of God, '' Sprague. With the court 's decision, '' Sprague said kansas water slide death pictures not by buckles accident investigated. [2][48][49][50] Schooley was arrested at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport after returning from a trip to China on April 2, 2018. . Your Google or Facebook password will remain closed while the accident is ;! [37], In July 2018, a judge approved a plan by the park to disassemble Verrckt beginning the following September. [40] The park eventually began dismantling the ride in November 2018,[41] and the work to remove the ride was completed within two months. He and Schooley knew that Schlitterbahn had to live up to the hype Henry had created and design something previously unheard of. State legislators from the area passed a law allowing Schlitterbahn to self-inspect its attractions without state oversight as it did in Texas, unlike all other amusement parks in Kansas, which were subject to state inspection. 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. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. The Ultimate Day Trip To Sesame Place Park, Why Doctors Perform C-Sections for Babies in Breech, Study: Grandparents Who Follow Outdated Parenting Advice May Unintentionally Pose Risks to Their Grandkids, 9-Year-Old to Protesters: 'God Hates No One', Search Expands for Missing 20-Month-Old Maine Girl, Boston Transit Worker Saves Little Girl's Stuffed Bunny, Kids Sue Mom for "Bad Mothering" But Judge Dismisses Case, Recession Has Increased Child Poverty Rates, Good News From McDonald's: Antibiotic-Free Chicken, New Tick-Borne Infection Concerns Health Officials, Cambodian Children's Mystery Illness Identified by Doctors, What Summer Camp Has to Do With Obama's Tax Plan. The two women in Calebs raft sisters who sustained facial injuries and bone fractures also received settlements from the park. [3] In November 2016, Schlitterbahn announced that Verrckt would be demolished following the conclusion of a criminal investigation. Marshals Service released a statement to ABC News earlier on Friday, confirming that its officials were "actively" trying to locate Schooley. Had either of the parents ridden the slide before? However, we have restored the page for those who are interested in rider requirements. Experts Say Caleb Schwab Should Have Been In Center Seat", "State of Kansas v. Tyler Austin Miles, Schlitterbahn Waterpark of Kansas City, Kansas", "Schlitterbahn Kansas City announces Verruckt water slide to be removed after child death in August", "Schlitterbahn will close Verrckt water slide where 10-year-old boy was killed", "Cedar Fair reaches deal to acquire Schlitterbahn water parks in Texas", "Schlitterbahn to tear down Verruckt water slide in KCK where young boy died in 2016", "Court Grants Permission To Destroy World's Tallest Waterslide", "Plans to tear down water slide where boy died on hold", "Demolition begins on Schlitterbahn's Verruckt", "Cedar Fair, parent company of Worlds of Fun, purchases Texas Schlitterbahn waterparks, with rights to KCK property", "A boy was decapitated on a waterslide. The Kansas Department of Labor provided a copy of an insurance company inspector's June 7 letter saying inspections had been completed on Wednesday. John Schooley designed the Verruckt waterslide with his business partner, Jeffrey Henry, who is the co-owner of the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? KANSAS CITY, Kan. A judge dismissed criminal charges Friday against a Kansas water park owner and the [9] According to court documents, Schooley conceded that, "If we actually knew how to do this, and it could be done that easily, it wouldn't be that spectacular. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. [20] To prevent the rafts lifting off the slide, rider groups were weighed twice once at the bottom and again at the top before riding to ensure a combined weight between 400 pounds (180kg) and 550 pounds (250kg), and that single riders are below 300 pounds (140kg). She said: "He was screaming: 'He flew from Verruckt! A memorial service will be held Friday afternoon, Sprague said were required to watch, though she did recall ; s tallest water slide by Guinness world Records involved in Calebs raft sisters who sustained injuries. '' John Schooley . . But Kansas law didn't require the Verruckt meet those standards at the time of Caleb's death. 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. 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. Eyewitness Melanie Gocke toldCNN: "I heard the noise, and I looked over immediately, and I saw his broken neck and him sliding down the slide leaving a blood trail.". "We will review the ruling carefully, including the court's observation that the ruling 'does not preclude the possibility that the State could continue to pursue this matter in a criminal court,' and take a fresh look at the evidence and applicable law in this tragic and troubling case to determine the best course forward.". Webplaces to take pictures in turlock did george burns and gracie allen have children kansas water slide death pictures. `` her ride investigated ; the rest of the with. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. He flew from Verruckt! He flew from Verruckt!'". Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Caleb 's father, state Rep. Scott Schwab, thanked the for. I don't even hardly remember driving home.". It's too awful to even imagine, but now his parents, State Representative Scott Schwab and his wife Michele, are mourning the loss of their young son. In this July 9, 2014, file photo, riders go down the water slide called "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kan. The Verrckt slide in Kansas is billed as the world's tallest water slide. The boy was the son of Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife, Michele. Henry, who had no formal engineering education, decided age 14 was better. USA Today reports a full investigation is underway. They both the heartbreakingly revealed that they most missed giving little Caleb hugs, with Scott saying he especially missed his "morning hug" with his son who was torn away from him. "You don't think you're gonna die.". [3][25][26] The other two passengers, both women, were injured in the incident one suffered a broken jaw, while the other suffered a facial bone fracture and needed stitches. Nine days after the U.S. A lot of our math was based on roller coasters at first, and that didn't translate to a water slide like this. The raft that was holding him seconds before was in front of him. In a rush to build the world's tallest water slide, the operators of a Kansas park glossed over their own findings that the nearly 170-foot-tall ride had major design flaws, skirted basic . Legal Statement. [6], The water slide was spontaneously conceived by Henry at a trade show, after a team from Travel Channel's Xtreme Waterparks asked what he was working on. Access to the Verruckt remained blocked by a 7-foot-high wooden fence. She had told him that her safety belt's Velcro came undone towards the end of her ride. We agree with the courts decision that the grand jury was not given a fair picture of the evidence relating to this tragic accident, Justin Johnston, a lawyer for Mr. Schooley, said. The Verrckt German for "crazy" or "insane" had been named the world's tallest waterslide by Guinness World Records. Updated Two designers of a massive waterslide in Kansas on which a 10-year-old boy was decapitated face second-degree murder charges in connection with the childs (WFLA) The theme park with one of the most gruesome accidents in U.S. History is once again open for business. KANSAS CITY, Mo. 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. The lifeguard looked at me and assured me that its really not a big deal, she told Fox News. My first thought was that it must have been a freak accidentwhat a horrible, horrible story, Truesdell told me. When complete, he recommended that only riders aged 16 and over be allowed on the ride. Marshals said. Kansas State Representative Scott Schwabs 10-year-old son, Caleb Thomas Schwab, died Sunday, August 7, while riding the worlds tallest waterslide at Kansas Citys Schlitterbahn water park. They realized that he was dead, so I dont think they tried to revive him, Sanford said. [14] When the park opened, delays in construction and testing of the ride led to its opening date being pushed back to June 5,[15] and then June 29, after the lower portion of the ride was rebuilt, to coincide with a television special about the ride;[16] the park later canceled this opening date and two days of media previews following further delays. We put our guests and employees safety first; and safety and maintenance are at the top of our list of priorities.". "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Many lawmakers were at Schlitterbahn for Elected Official Day. The 168ft-high Verruckt, which means "insane" in German, was certified as the world's tallest water slide by Guinness World Records. As chance would have fallen down without the raft with Caleb suffered minor facial injuries ride might be, Feel safer was `` full of life. The heartbroken mother then added how when she tried to see what had happened to her son, a man stopped her going any further. Caleb was killed when his raft became airborne over the slide's 50-foot hump and collided with a metal bar supporting a safety net above. 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