The parents of a 10-year-old girl who drowned at a water park in Kansas City, Missouri, have filed a lawsuit against the park and its parent company. The incident occurred in 2016 at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark, where the girl was riding on the Verrückt water slide, which was billed as the tallest water slide in the world at the time.
According to the lawsuit, the girl was decapitated when her raft went airborne and hit a metal pole that supported a safety net. The lawsuit alleges that the park and its parent company were negligent in their design, construction, and operation of the ride, and that they failed to properly train employees and warn patrons of the risks involved.
The lawsuit also claims that the park and its parent company knew about previous injuries and safety concerns related to the ride, but failed to take adequate measures to address them. The ride was closed permanently after the incident.
The tragedy at Schlitterbahn Waterpark has raised questions about the safety of amusement park rides and the responsibility of park owners and operators to ensure that their rides are safe for patrons. In response to the incident, lawmakers in Kansas passed a bill that increased regulation and oversight of amusement parks in the state.
The bill, known as “Caleb’s Law,” was named after a 10-year-old boy who was killed on a waterslide at a different Kansas water park in 2016. The law requires annual inspections of amusement park rides by certified inspectors, as well as mandatory reporting of accidents and injuries.
The Schlitterbahn Waterpark incident also led to criminal charges against several individuals involved in the design and operation of the Verrückt water slide. The park’s co-owner, a designer of the ride, and two maintenance workers were all charged with second-degree murder, aggravated battery, and other crimes.
The criminal case is ongoing, but the civil lawsuit filed by the parents of the girl who drowned has already resulted in a settlement. The amount of the settlement has not been disclosed, but the parents’ attorney said that it was “substantial.”
The tragedy at Schlitterbahn Waterpark serves as a reminder of the importance of safety in amusement parks and the need for adequate regulation and oversight. While amusement park rides can be thrilling and exciting, they can also be dangerous if not properly designed, constructed, and operated. It is the responsibility of park owners and operators to ensure that their rides are safe for patrons, and the consequences of failing to do so can be devastating.
