A 12-year-old boy died Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, on the Kansas water slide that is billed as the world's largest, according to officials. 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. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com. 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 was found dead in a pool at the bottom of the slide. The slide is 168-feet tall and has 264 stairs leading to the top -- taller than the Statue of Liberty. "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," Melanie Gocke told CNN. Riders climbed 264 steps to the top before sitting in a raft that plummeted and then soared over a crest on its way to a runoff pool at the bottom. 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. Police confirmed to PEOPLE that he had been decapitated. ABC News talked with Esteban Castaneda, who witnessed the incident at the water park. ", In fact, even Henry told USA Today upon riding the Verrckt, "I'm still recovering mentally. In Touch Weekly is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. As chance would have it, Schwabs father was a Kansas state representative. The two women in Calebs raft sisters who sustained facial injuries and bone fractures also received settlements from the park. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. — -- 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. 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 was decapitated in 2016 . The Kansas Department of Labor provided a copy of an insurance company inspector's June 7 letter saying inspections had been completed on Wednesday. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! ", In a statement, Schlitterbahn officials said they "are deeply and intensely saddened for the Schwab family and all who were impacted by the tragic accident.". Riders go down the slide in multi-person rafts and have to be at last 54 inches tall, according to the park's website. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. All rights reserved. Caleb Schwab, 10, died on the world's tallest water slide in Kansas City in August 2016 Credit: David Strickland 7 The water slide in Kansas City was billed as the world's tallest at. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. "[Nathan] was screaming, 'He flew from Verrckt, he flew Verrckt,'" Caleb's mother said. It was supposed to be just another summer day at the Kansas City water park until Jess Sanford and Melanie Gocke witnessed something that would be imprinted on their minds forever: the death. All Rights Reserved. July 13 (UPI) --A judge has ruled a Kansas waterslide billed as the world's largest, where a boy was killed in 2016, will be demolished this summer.The 17-story Verruckt slide at Schlitterbahn . Each strap is held in place by long Velcro-style straps, not by buckles. They were not related to the boy. It's like jumping off the Empire State Building. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Multiple injuries were reported before his incident. other recent tragedies are any indication. "Before they took off I said, 'Brothers stick together' and [Caleb] said, 'I know, dad,'" Scott said. Melissa Willets is a writer/blogger and a mom. KANSAS CITY, Kan. 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 was decapitated in 2016. USA Today reports a full investigation is underway. Some new details in the Caleb Schwab death are emerging with a witness giving her account of how the 10-year-old boy was killed on a water slide at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas on Sunday. Oberhauser said he reported the matter to park workers. This is likely where Caleb had been sitting. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. A memorial service will be held Friday afternoon, Sprague said. The boy's parents Republican state Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife, Michele have not spoken publicly since the death. Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Nathan went down the slide first and waited for Caleb at the bottom. 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. "Caleb was a 10-year-old child, but in many ways, he was a man of God," Sprague said. It was at that point that he noticed the boy appeared to have been decapitated. 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. They were not related to the boy. His funeral is scheduled for Friday. We are obviously disappointed and respectfully disagree with the courts decision, the statement said, adding that prosecutors would take a fresh look at the evidence and applicable law in this tragic and troubling case to determine the best course forward.. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. This is likely where Caleb had been sitting. It was a Sunday afternoon, August 7, 2016, the temperature a pleasant 78 degrees, as ten-year-old Caleb Schwab began the 264-step climb to the top of Verrckt, the world's tallest waterslide, which. 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. The slide's name means "insane" in German. A memorial service is planned for Friday afternoon. The death of a 10-year-old boy on a 17-story water slide in Kansas will leave some parents wondering how safe water parks really are for their kids. Apparently the owner specifically chose Kansas because they have no height restrictions for water slides. A 12-year-old boy died Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, on the Kansas water slide that was billed as the . - Claiming corporate executives were rushed, careless and lacked expertise to design a thrill ride . We are good at sending thoughts and prayers, Truesdell quipped. 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.". WARNING: The details in this story are graphic and may not be suitable for all readers. Park-goers Jess Sanford and Melanie Gocke were on the Verrckt slide at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, Kan., earlier in the day before little Caleb Thomas Schwab was killed on. Castaneda said two other woman were strapped into the raft, and the first position of the raft was empty. Henry and Schooley were ultimately indicted on charges of aggravated battery, aggravated endangerment of a child, interference with law enforcement, and involuntary manslaughter. 10 year old boy Caleb Schwab got decapitated by one of the biggest water slides called "Verrckt" in 2016. According to. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Had he done it before, and alone? Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. But once I took a closer look, I started to realize how complicated this story really was, and how this could have happened to anyone who went down that slide.. Had he begged his parents for weeks? "It . Did he enjoy extreme rides? 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. But on Friday a judge dismissed the charges and said prosecutors had submitted improper evidence.. Riders are propelled by jets of water as they go over a hump while riding a water slide called "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. . 2 Another rider, Kenneth Conrad, told WDAF-TV that during his trip down the waterslide last year with a friend, the friend's shoulder strap came "completely off." The deadly accident happened Sunday at the Schlitterbahn Water Park. Pastor Clint Sprague, the family spokesperson for the Schwab family said they're heartbroken. A lawyer who represented the Schwab family did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday. In considering whether those charges were appropriate, the judge agreed with defense attorneys that prosecutors had misled the grand jury by showing made-for-TV video footage for a Travel Channel show, "Xtreme Waterparks," which prosecutors used to allege a reckless attitude toward construction of Verrckt. The park was closed down after the incident Sunday and remained closed Monday. 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 slide is 168 feet and has 264 stairs leading to the top -- taller than the Statue of Liberty. 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. She had told him that her safety belt's Velcro came undone towards the end of her ride. Caleb Schwab died Sunday on a slide at the . Lawyers for the other defendants either could not be reached on Saturday or did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The video was intended to show that the defendants had exhibited a reckless attitude toward the construction of the slide, Judge Burns wrote. -- 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 was decapitated in 2016. In the aftermath . Caleb Thomas Schwab, the son of Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab, was killed Sunday while riding "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. "The family and each and every one of those affected are foremost on our minds and in our hearts today. Instead, let's focus our efforts on thinking through all the ways to stay safe at amusement parks, in an effort to prevent anyone else from getting injured or worse in a place that is meant to inspire fun. Caleb was in a raft with two adults who were not related to him when he was killed on the slide, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the worlds tallest. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. In early tests, rafts carrying sandbags flew off the slide, prompting engineers to tear down half of the ride and reconfigure some angles. Kansas City Police also released more information about the incident Monday, calling the boy's death a "fatal neck injury at the end of the ride." Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick sent an email on Sunday to other members of the state legislature asking for their prayers for the Schwabs. 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. "We held each other and had a little emotional meltdown once we moved away from the immediate area," she says. Ultimately, he decided that the defense lawyers arguments of grand jury abuse were credible. The two women riding in the raft with Caleb suffered minor facial injuries. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "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.". The Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City. Verruckt was certified as the world's tallest water slide by Guinness World Records. Verruckt was certified as the world's tallest water slide by Guinness World Records. Riders plummeted down the nearly vertical 17-story chutetaller than Niagara Fallsat speeds up to 70 miles per hour. Visitors flocked to Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas, to experience its thrill. The corporation behind the Verruckt water slide in Kansas City and a former operations director who is being charged with manslaughter for the death of a 10-year-old boy did not have any proper . After the tragedy, prosecutors led a Wyandotte County grand jury to approve charges of second-degree murder. Caleb Thomas Schwab, the son of Kansas State Rep. Scott Schwab, was killed Sunday while riding "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. "I think we have a serious issue with the restraint system. 6, See Sister Wives Christine and BF Davids Cutest Moments: Photos, Inside '90 Day Fiance Stars Memphis and Hamzas Custody Battle, Gone Too Soon! Although he has not seen or ridden Verruckt, Martin said a more solid restraint system that fits over the body - similar to those used in roller coasters - may have been better. — -- 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 . The Verrckt German for "crazy" or "insane" had been named the world's tallest waterslide by Guinness World Records. She had told him that her safety belt's Velcro came undone toward the end of her ride. So they rode it again, only to see the restraint on her son's friend also come loose by the time it was over. 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. ABC News talked with Esteban Castaneda, who. And now, the Verrckt water slide at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas, is the site of a horrible accident, in which 10-year-old Caleb Schwab died Sunday. WARNING: The details in this story are graphic and may not be suitable for all readers. According to the lawsuit, Verrckts design violated nearly all aspects of longstanding industry safety standards.. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. We didnt know whether we had it figured out or not.. In seeking the indictment, state attorneys showed grand jurors video footage filmed for a Travel Channel show, Xtreme Waterparks, which featured the slide in an episode. However, once the boys made it to the rafts, the operator informed the pair that they would not be Continue reading Brother Of Boy Decapitated On Kansas . KANSAS CITY, Mo. The slide is 168-feet tall and has 264 stairs leading to the top -- taller than the Statue of Liberty. 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. On Friday, a state court judge threw out those charges. ABC News talked with Esteban Castaneda, who witnessed the incident at the water park. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. In Touch Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. The lifeguard looked at me and assured me that its really not a big deal, she told Fox News. Castaneda said he had ridden the slide earlier in the day with his cousin's 14-year-old daughter. Removal of the slide had been delayed pending the investigation and trial on the criminal charges, but last year a court gave approval for it to be demolished. Despite the tragedy, visitor numbers were around average three days after, a spokesperson said on Wednesday. We dont 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., Tricia Bath, a lawyer for Mr. Are Janelle, Christine and Meri Suing Kody Over Money From Coyote Pass? "The indictment said the Verruckt water slide raft at Kansas City's Schlitterbahn Waterpark "went airborne and collided with the overhead hoops and netting" designed to keep . The Verrckt slide in Kansas is billed as the world's tallest water slide. The slide's name means "insane" in German. Last year Caleb's family was awarded nearly $20 million in settlement payments from two companies associated with Texas-based Schlitterbahn, along with the ride's general contractor, the raft manufacturer and a consultant on the slide, reports The Kansas City Star. Over two years after 10-year-old Caleb Schwab lost his life on the tallest waterslide in the world, the amusement park industry has yet to fully reckon with the . "I didn't think much about it," she said. ABC News talked with Esteban Castaneda, who. It also can get old and degrade with use. 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. Criminal charges brought against him and others in connection with a fatal accident on the slide were dismissed on Friday. German for insane, Verrckt was designed to challenge the laws of physics. The story, it turned out, was one of gross negligence, lax state regulations, and the consequences of hubris. We ask the community to please keep all of those impacted in your thoughts and prayers," representatives for the park said. But it didn't, so I worked there. Following the unspeakable accident, the park immediately shut down. Access to the Verruckt remained blocked by a 7-foot-high wooden fence. Legal Statement. Jon Rust, a professor of textile engineering at North Carolina State University, said the material used on the straps, commonly called hook and loop, isn't designed to keep a person in the seat. or redistributed. 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. A young childs life was lost and his troubling death was mourned by family, friends and the entire Kansas community and beyond.. The lifeguard told Castaneda that there was nothing he could do to help. She said the ride's operators sent them down the slide even though their combined weight was 393 pounds shy of the 400 weight minimum the park advertises as a requirement. I remember hearing about the accident on the news and thought that the park was going to shut down. He rode the newly opened ride that day during an event at the waterpark for the families of elected officials, which included his father, former Kansas lawmaker Scott Schwab, who is now the Kansas secretary of state. When Conrad herself rode the slide, she expressed safety concerns about the straps to a water park lifeguard. Castaneda said he had ridden the slide earlier in the day with his cousin's 14-year-old daughter. 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. , the park said point that he had ridden the slide 's means. 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