FULL: Tire Sampson’s mother talks to reporters about her son, his death and filed suit
Nekia Dodd, the mother of Tire Sampson, held a news conference remembering her son, who died after he fell from his tethers on the Orlando FreeFall freefall tower in March at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida. She said her son was a “gentle giant,” playing basketball and soccer and dreaming of playing professionally one day. She said that she wants the ride to be eliminated and for stricter laws to be put in place.
ST. LOUIS, MO. – Watch the full press conference with Tire Sampson’s mother, Nekia Dodd, in the player above.
Tire Sampson’s mother said she wants the Orlando FreeFall drop tower at ICON Park toppled after her son fell to his death while on the ride in March, and has also called for stricter laws for such rides.
CONTINUOUS COVERAGE: Orlando FreeFall Death Investigation
“They can take the trip completely. Get rid of it completely. It’s too big a risk,” Nekia Dodd, Sampson’s mother, told reporters during a news conference Tuesday in St. Louis, Missouri, where Sampson lived. . It was the first time she had spoken publicly since the death of his son.
Dodd and Yarnell Sampson, Tyre’s father, filed a joint wrongful death civil lawsuit Monday against the amusement park where the ride is located, the manufacturer, the ride’s owners and operators, and the construction company building the ride. .
“Getting a phone call and not being there, as a parent, to comfort him, to say ‘everything is going to be okay,’ is very upsetting and heartbreaking,” Dodd said, recalling the phone call she received the night her son he fell off the ride.
She remembered her son as a “gentle giant,” who was humble, well-respected, and well-mannered. His football team knew him as “Big Tick” (Big Ticket) and he had dreams of playing sports professionally.
“He was an entrepreneur. For him not to be here, it’s devastating. He was on his way. He was going to be known, but not like this,” he said.
COMING UP: Tyre’s father and attorney, Ben Crump, are expected to hold a news conference at 2 p.m. It will be broadcast here and within the FOX 35 mobile app.
Sampson was in Orlando with another family for spring break when he and his friends went to ICON Park, an amusement park with various rides and attractions. He was at the Orlando FreeFall, a new drop tower attraction that opens in December 2021 (it is advertised as the world’s tallest drop tower), and fell out of the ride’s restraints on the way back down, according to the report. initial investigation.
He died at the hospital, authorities said. Video of the fall was widely shared on social media.
A state-mandated investigation by Quest Engineering, a forensic firm, concluded that ride operators manually altered two of the harness proximity sensors on two of the seats to accommodate larger passengers.
“These mismatches allowed the safety lights to come on, incorrectly satisfying the ride’s electronic safety mechanisms, which allowed the ride to operate despite Mr. Sampson not being properly secured in the seat,” said Nikki Fried. , Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, whose agency inspects rides at smaller amusement parks.
The report also concluded that the ride itself did not experience an electrical or mechanical failure.
Dodd said Sampson gave him a hug before he left for Orlando and said, “I’ll see you Saturday or Sunday.” To then get a phone call days later that he wouldn’t be coming home was heartbreaking, he said.
RELATED: Tire Sampson’s family files wrongful death lawsuit
The family is seeking an unknown amount in damages and has requested a jury trial.
Tyre’s father, along with attorney Ben Crump, is expected to speak about the case Tuesday at 2 pm at ICON Park.
Reference-www.fox35orlando.com