ORLANDO, Fla. — A jury returned a verdict Thursday in the wrongful death lawsuit of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson that totaled more than $300 million.

Jury selection had taken place Thursday morning in the case, which stems from Sampson's death when he fell from Orlando’s FreeFall ride in ICON Park in 2022.

What You Need To Know

  • A jury awarded the parents of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson more than $300 million in a wrongful death lawsuit Thursday

  • In March 2022, Sampson died after falling from the 430-foot-tall drop tower in the heart of Orlando’s tourist district

  • A trial involving the ride's manufacturing company took place Thursday

In March 2022, Sampson died after falling from the 430-foot-tall drop tower in the heart of Orlando’s tourist district. The St. Louis teen was visiting ICON Park on his spring break when he slipped through the restraints on the drop tower ride.

The situation prompted a debate about ride safety, with Sampson’s family taking the manufacturer of the ride to court.

Originally, his parents filed multiple lawsuits against several parties either involved in owning or operating the ride. While they settled some cases last year, Thursday’s trial aimed to hold Funtime, the ride’s Austrian-based manufacturer, accountable after the company decided not to settle.

ICON Park did not own or operate the dismantled attraction that is the subject of the lawsuit in court Thursday, so it was not involved in the trial.

At around 5 p.m. Thursday, the jury returned with its decision, which awarded Sampson's mother, Nekia Dodd, and father, Yarnell Sampson, a total of $155 million each.

The lawsuit alleges Sampson, who was approximately six foot two and weighed 380 pounds on the day of his death, was not subject to any posted height or weight restrictions for the ride.

The investigation revealed that the ride’s maximum allowed weight was 287 pounds.

Officials claim that while most free-falling rides have an overhead harness and seatbelt, the one at ICON Park only had an overhead restraint, which led to Sampson slipping out of the seat while suspended in the air.

The lawsuit also claimed that installing seatbelts on the drop tower to meet the required standards of a free-fall ride would have cost approximately $22 per seat, totaling $660.

A report issued in April 2022 also stated that they adjusted the ride’s seats to accommodate larger people.

The FreeFall ride was dismantled in 2023.