The state alleged that the two men had rushed forward with the rides construction without the technical expertise required to design a properly functioning waterslide, skipped fundamental steps in the design process, and relied almost entirely on crude trial-and-error methods for safety testing. The Kansas Department of Labor provided a copy of an insurance company inspector's June 7 letter saying inspections had been completed on Wednesday. — -- 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 . Verruckt was certified as the world's tallest water slide by Guinness World Records. Access to the Verruckt remained blocked by a 7-foot-high wooden fence. 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 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. Nate Schwab, 12, was at the top of the Verruckt water slide at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City with his 10-year-old brother, Caleb. Pastor Clint Sprague, the family spokesperson for the Schwab family said they're heartbroken. Melissa Willets is a writer/blogger and a mom. -- 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. By Elizabeth Chuck. In Touch Weekly is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. or redistributed. 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. ", But how can a ride this extreme be safe for anyone? (They were also gunning for a Guinness World Record.) We are good at sending thoughts and prayers, Truesdell quipped. The pair had hoped to ride the "World's Largest Waterslide" together. Conrad's wife snapped a photo at the end of the ride showing the strap missing, and Conrad didn't file a complaint with the park. The park was closed down after the incident Sunday and remained closed Monday. 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 . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. — -- 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. August 9, 2016 5:21 PM EDT. 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. How a Freak Accident Happens. UPDATE: According to The Washington Post, Schlitterbahn Waterpark and former director of operations, Tyler Austin Miles, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and several counts of aggravated battery, aggravated endangering a child, and interference with law enforcement in connection to the death of Caleb Schwab involving the water coaster, Verrckt. Castaneda saw the young victim, Caleb Schwab, lying in the water, but he said a lifeguard told him, "There's nothing you can do.". He described a horrific scene after the boy's death. North Dakota news site MyNDNow.com reports the boy's parents were with him at the park that day. 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. 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. In Touch Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. The boy, Caleb Schwab, was with his family at the Schlitterbahn waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas, on Aug. 7, 2016, when the raft he was riding on the 17-story Verrckt waterslide went airborne at the crest of the drop. Castaneda said he had ridden the slide earlier in the day with his cousin's 14-year-old daughter. ABC News talked with Esteban Castaneda, who. 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Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. A lawyer who represented the Schwab family did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday. Are Tarek and Christina Still Business Partners After 'Flip or Flop'? The two women riding in the raft with Caleb suffered minor facial injuries. 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. 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 realized that he was dead, so I don't think they tried to revive him.. 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.". 'Life After Lockup' Season 4 Couple Updates, Baring it All! 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. This is likely where Caleb had been sitting. 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. Witnesses have described the harrowing moments after a 10-year-old boy was decapitated while riding on the worlds biggest waterslide in Kansas while other riders have told of their safety straps also coming loose . The case focused on a waterslide at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kan. A ride might be scary, but you figure that they have it figured out. 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 W. Henry at the Verrckt waterslide that he helped design for a Kansas water park. She said the family rode Verruckt twice in one day a couple of weeks ago. 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. See Which Celebrities Announced Pregnancies in 2023 So Far, See Teen Mom OG Alum Mackenzie Edwards Style Transformation: Photos. At a height of 168 feet 7 inches (51.38 m), Verrckt became the world's tallest water slide when it opened on July 10, 2014, surpassing Kilimanjaro at Aldeia das guas Park Resort in Brazil. Did he enjoy extreme rides? The video was intended to show that the defendants had exhibited a reckless attitude toward the construction of the slide, Judge Burns wrote. In 2017, Calebs family received a settlement of nearly $20 million from Schlitterbahn and other companies involved in the slide, The Kansas City Star reported. How Much Money Do Survivor Contestants Get Paid? Police said the death appeared to be an accident . 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. Truesdells chilling short documentary The Water Slide, premiering on The Atlantic today, uses news and promotional footage to depict the ill-conceived project and its tragic fallout. This Nov. 2013 file photo shows Schlitterbahn's Verruckt speed slide/water coaster in Kansas City. Castaneda said two other woman were strapped into the raft, and the first position of the raft was empty. All Rights Reserved. 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. Multiple injuries were reported before his incident. It turns out at first, it definitely wasn't. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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, accusing them of recklessness. The slide's name means "insane" in German. She had told him that her safety belt's Velcro came undone towards the end of her ride. By Cox Media Group National Content Desk August 10, 2016 at 11:32 am CDT. Caleb Thomas Schwab, the son of Rep. Scott Schwab, died on the 17-story. Kansascity.com reported last year that the Schwab family has received a $20 million settlement from the companies involved in Calebs death. The world's tallest water slide turned deadly on Sunday after a Kansas state lawmaker's son was killed on the attraction. All rights reserved. That was really exciting because we truly didnt know whether we were going to survive it or not, he says. In the aftermath . By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 'I'm not supposed to be here': Penn doc on mission to find treatments, PennDOT worker remains seriously injured after hit-and-run. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Court documents also reveal that a team of experts who inspected the slide after Caleb's death found "physical evidence that indicated that other rafts had gone airborne and collided with the. 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. 10 year old boy Caleb Schwab got decapitated by one of the biggest water slides called "Verrckt" in 2016. 6, See Sister Wives Christine and BF Davids Cutest Moments: Photos, Inside '90 Day Fiance Stars Memphis and Hamzas Custody Battle, Gone Too Soon! 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. The dismissed charges were based upon improper "illegal" evidence presented to a grand jury, ruled Judge Robert Burns of Wyandotte County, according to KMBC. The defendants included Jeffrey W. Henry, a co-owner of Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts, which is based in Texas; John T. Schooley, a designer of the slide; and Tyler Austin Miles, a former operations director. . You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Verrckt German for "crazy" or "insane" had been named the world's tallest waterslide by Guinness World Records. 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. The slide is 168 feet and has 264 stairs leading to the top -- taller than the Statue of Liberty. The slide is 168 feet tall and has 264. Family pastor Clint Sprague told reporters today that Caleb "was an incredible young man" who was "full of life.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, A memorial service is planned for Friday afternoon. Castaneda said he had ridden the slide earlier in the day with his cousin's 14-year-old daughter. A Kansas water park plans to tear down a giant water slide on which a 10-year-old boy died in 2016. This is likely where Caleb had been sitting. Castaneda said 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. The story, it turned out, was one of gross negligence, lax state regulations, and the consequences of hubris. The netting that ultimately ended up killing the child was added to prevent the rafts from flying off of the slide completely., In the film, Schooley speaks to a reporter after having tested the ride himself. Riders are told to hold ropes inside the raft. 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. A company spokeswoman said in a statement that Schlitterbahn's owners embraced the judge's decision, according to the Times. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. The Kansas waterslide on which a 10-year-old boy was decapitated two years ago will be demolished later this year, officials announced Thursday. But riders sometimes struck the netting or the poles, and some injuries had already occurred when, in August 2016, Caleb Schwab, 10, got into a raft with two other riders. 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 168ft high 7 Fire engines pictured at the scene of the fatal accident in 2016 Credit: Reuters 7 "Caleb was a 10-year-old child, but in many ways, he was a man of God," Sprague said. 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. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- 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. "No words can express the pain we all feel for this terrible tragedy. Police confirmed to PEOPLE that he had been decapitated. Had he done it before, and alone? "Since the day he was born, he brought abundant joy to our family and all those he came in contact with," he said. The child was riding on the Verruckt water slide when he died. Dr. Robert Klapper says to start pool exercises as way to improve back, Elizabeth Holmes has 2nd child as she tries to avoid prison, TikTok sets new default time limits for teens. My first thought was that it must have been a freak accidentwhat a horrible, horrible story, Truesdell told me. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. On the day of Calebs accident, the Schwab family had been visiting the water park for Elected Official Day, an annual promotion from Schlitterbahn that offered free admission to Kansas elected officials and their families. They were sending sandbags down and basically hoping that they didn't fly off of the slide. They were not related to the boy. Visitors flocked to Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas, to experience its thrill. I didn't understand what was going on so I only saw Caleb sliding down the last half of the slide, and then I saw the blood. ABC News talked with Esteban Castaneda, who. Esteban Castaneda told ABC News he first heard a "boom" on Schlitterbahn Waterpark's Verruckt water slide, which is promoted as the world's tallest. 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 . At this time, we don't know the circumstances that led to Caleb riding this extreme slide. Police were investigating the death as a criminal case although police spokesman Cameron Morgan said Tuesday that designation did not mean they suspect foul play. Had either of the parents ridden the slide before? Schlitterbahn allegedly buried or downplayed these reports. After the tragedy, prosecutors led a Wyandotte County grand jury to approve charges of second-degree murder. As chance would have it, Schwabs father was a Kansas state representative. 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