Tyre Sampson was a 14-year-old boy from St. Louis, Missouri, who tragically lost his life on March 24, 2022, while visiting Orlando, Florida, during spring break. Tyre was an honor roll student and a football player with big dreams. However, his promising future was cut short in a devastating accident at ICON Park.
Tyre fell from the Orlando FreeFall, a towering amusement park ride advertised as the world’s tallest freestanding drop tower. The ride lifted passengers over 400 feet into the air before tilting forward and dropping them at high speeds. Tyre slipped out of his seat as the ride descended and fell to the ground. He died from blunt force trauma.
An investigation revealed that Tyre, who was over 6 feet tall and weighed 383 pounds, exceeded the ride’s weight limit of 287 pounds. Despite this, no weight restrictions were posted, and staff were not trained to enforce them. A critical sensor on Tyre’s seat had been improperly adjusted, which falsely indicated his safety harness was secure. This tragic oversight allowed the ride to operate when it was unsafe.
Tyre’s mother, Nekia Dodd, has been vocal about her grief and her fight for justice. Watching the dismantling of the ride in March 2023, she expressed a mix of relief and sorrow, stating, “I do appreciate that they have honored my request of removing the ride, but I am still without a son.”
Tyre Sampson death stands as a powerful call for change. The family filed a lawsuit against several companies connected to the ride, alleging negligence. While they have settled with some parties, their fight continues against others. They are also advocating for stricter safety laws in Florida through the “Tyre Sampson Act,” which aims to improve ride safety standards, operator training, and state oversight.
In Tyre’s memory, his mother has established a foundation to support education and scholarships. She hopes to carry forward his spirit of giving while ensuring that no other family suffers such a heartbreaking loss.
