“An avoidable tragedy”: State senator calls for FreeFall ride to be taken down after teen’s death

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By Christy Turner

ORLANDO, Fla. — Calls for change continue to grow at ICON Park in Orange County after 14-year-old Tyre Sampson fell from a free-fall ride and died.

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State Sen. Randolph Bracy sent a letter to the state demanding that the ride be taken down.

He’s also pushing for more safety measures to make sure this never happens again.

“We just want the ride down and we just want justice for the family,” said Shay Johnson, Sampson’s cousin.

READ: Report reveals that teen who died after fall from drop tower was over weight, size limit for ride

Johnson is on a mission to gather signatures to destroy the drop tower.

“It just gives me chills just to see everybody come out,” she said.

The family is drumming up support from strangers.

In Bracy’s letter, he wrote, “No human being should experience the plight of tragedy that could have been avoided.”

READ: Calls for action from family of boy who died riding FreeFall gain support from community, lawmaker

In the upcoming special session, Bracy will look into setting a safety standard for all rides, including seat belts and automatic locks that are set off if someone isn’t strapped in.

“We’re looking into possible safety measures that could be put into law so something like this doesn’t happen again,” Bracy said.

Eyewitness News reached out to the SlingShot Group over the proposed safety measures and its response to the request to take the ride down. The group declined to comment.

READ: ‘Shut this whole thing down’: Tyre Sampson’s family calls for FreeFall’s demolition, statue be built

Last week, the group said it was cooperating with the investigation.

Read the full letter below:

ICON Park vigil People including family gathered at a vigil outside Orlando FreeFall Monday to honor 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, who fell from the ride and died last week.

ICON Park vigil People including family gathered at a vigil outside Orlando FreeFall Monday to honor 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, who fell from the ride and died last week.

ICON Park vigil People including family gathered at a vigil outside Orlando FreeFall Monday to honor 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, who fell from the ride and died last week. (Nick Papantonis)

ICON Park vigil People including family gathered at a vigil outside Orlando FreeFall Monday to honor 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, who fell from the ride and died last week.

ICON Park vigil People including family gathered at a vigil outside Orlando FreeFall Monday to honor 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, who fell from the ride and died last week.

ICON Park vigil People including family gathered at a vigil outside Orlando FreeFall Monday to honor 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, who fell from the ride and died last week.

ICON Park vigil People including family gathered at a vigil outside Orlando FreeFall Monday to honor 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, who fell from the ride and died last week.

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