The man who worked as a maintenance technician for a now closed Freefall Ride at Icon Park in Orlando claims that in the weeks after the teenager fell to his death in March 2022, the safety issues of the ride were ignored.
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, former engineer Austin Campbell Alexander said he noticed a “safety issue” in the “seat and overall structural integrity” of the Freefall Drop Tower around January 2022.
The lawsuit will be filed against Orlando Eagle Drop Things Shot, the owner and operator of the ride, and other affiliates rather than Icon Park.
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Tire Sampson, 14, passed away in March 2022 when a seat at Orlando Freefall in Icon Park failed to secure him and fell over 100 feet. (Fox 35 Orlando)
Previous technology found that when the ride was opened, the seats associated with the free fall ride were manually bypassed by one of the operational managers.” Fox 35 Orlando. The manager is said to have used replacement sensors in two seats to “be able to accommodate larger patrons across certain height and weight limits.”
“This kind of override was intentionally and generally dangerous as the manufacturer of freefall rides sets weight and height restrictions on riders,” the lawsuit states.
Fox News Digital previously reported that the riding manual stated that the maximum passenger weights just over 286 pounds.
Campbell-Alexander said it reported “illegal and unsafe practices” to its supervisors outside of manufacturer guidelines.
Orlando Freefall was demolished in March 2023 after the permanent closure was announced in October 2022. (Fox 35 Orlando)
He also reported that he had no training in his status as a maintenance technique and believed it was the same for other employees who were responsible for “safe operation/maintenance of the safety of the patron or the ride itself.”
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According to the lawsuit, I had a safety issue while riding. However, the ride remained open “when it was supposed to have been closed to ensure customer safety.”
In March 2022, Campbell-Alexander said he and another employee realized that the metal cylinder responsible for locking the seat rider could not secure the seat properly because it was “too hot.” A few days later they also noticed a crack in the joints of the gondola.
The Free Fall Drop Tower Ride at Icon Park in Orlando, Florida was inspected on February 23, 2023. (Mom & Paparazzi from Fox News Digital)
Sampson fell into his death on March 24, 2022. Because he was over the limits of his ride at 6-foot-5 and about 360 pounds, so he didn't latch his seat when the ride dropped 400 feet at speeds of over 75 miles.
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During an investigation after Sampson's death, Campbell Alexander said he was asked to “return to a blank maintenance log and sign off for certain maintenance tasks,” as if he and his colleagues had performed them.
The freefall ride was inspected before it was completely demolished. (Mom & Paparazzi from Fox News Digital)
He opposed to “fraudulently affirming” that he had performed a particular task, and as a result, he was placed on paid leave and booted from the property. He said he continued his leave while the defendant attempted to settle a civil suit with Sampson's family, and once that was resolved, he was fired on March 31, 2023.
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The law firm representing Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot sent a statement on Campbell-Alexander's lawsuit to Fox 35, claiming that the original technology was the person who adjusted the sensors on board, resulting in his shooting.
“Our clients immediately investigated the tragic accident that led to the death of Tyre Sampson. When they discovered that Campbell Alexander had adjusted the sensor that caused the accident, he stopped any vehicle, Brian Bieber and Gray Robinson's Brian Bieber and resolved access to more rides.
“When we learned of the actions of Campbell Alexander and other employees, we actively notified investigators. We worked hard to resolve the lawsuits and allegations with Tyre's family.
