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. As chance would have it, Schwabs father was a Kansas state representative. All Rights Reserved. Legal Statement. Pastor Clint Sprague, the family spokesperson for the Schwab family, said they're heartbroken. Two women who are not family members were also in the raft at the time and were treated for facial injuries. TheAtlantic.com Copyright (c) 2023 by The Atlantic Monthly Group. Castaneda said he 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 family and each and every one of those affected are foremost on our minds and in our hearts today. Craig described the ride as "very, very rough," so much so that "when I got off, my head hurt.". 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. As investigators continue to look for answers, chilling new video has emerged - detailing the dangers of the. A lot of our math was based on roller coasters at first, and that didn't translate to a water slide like this. Kansas City, Kansas, police say a 10-year-old boy who was killed while riding the world's tallest water slide died of a neck injury. A showcase of cinematic short documentary films, curated by The Atlantic. A memorial service is planned for Friday afternoon. It's unclear whether the straps on "Verruckt" - German for "insane" - played any role in the death of Caleb Schwab, a Kansas lawmaker's son. And now, the Verrckt water slide at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas, is the site of a horrible accident, in which 10-year-old Caleb Schwab died Sunday. The rafts sometimes lifted from the chute momentarily, and the slide was covered with netting, supported by metal poles, so riders would not fall off. Verruckt was certified as the world's tallest water slide by Guinness World Records. -- 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. Multiple injuries were reported before his incident. In considering whether those charges were appropriate, the judge agreed with defense attorneys that prosecutors had misled the grand jury by showing made-for-TV video footage for a Travel Channel show, "Xtreme Waterparks," which prosecutors used to allege a reckless attitude toward construction of Verrckt. Verruckt was certified as the world's tallest water slide by Guinness World Records. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. Had he done it before, and alone? ABC's Elizabeth Hur has the latest on a pair of amusement park accidents. By Cox Media Group National Content Desk August 10, 2016 at 11:32 am CDT. 10 year old boy Caleb Schwab got decapitated by one of the biggest water slides called "Verrckt" in 2016. The slide's name means "insane" in German. 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 . 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Removal of the slide had been delayed pending the investigation and trial on the criminal charges, but last year a court gave approval for it to be demolished. Criminal indictments came in 2018. August 9, 2016 5:21 PM EDT. The slide's name means "insane" in German. I obviously recognize that the circumstances and events giving rise to these indictments are indisputably tragic, Judge Burns wrote. In 2012, the Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry, together with the senior designer John Schooley, fast-tracked Verrckts construction to coincide with an appearance on a reality TV show about amusement parks. 'Life After Lockup' Season 4 Couple Updates, Baring it All! 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. He described a horrific scene after the boy's death. Last year Caleb's family was awarded nearly $20 million in settlement payments from two companies associated with Texas-based Schlitterbahn, along with the ride's general contractor, the raft manufacturer and a consultant on the slide, reports The Kansas City Star. 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. Rafts barreling down the slide allegedly reached speeds of up to 70 mph. other recent tragedies are any indication. -- 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. The two women in Calebs raft sisters who sustained facial injuries and bone fractures also received settlements from the park. After the tragedy, prosecutors led a Wyandotte County grand jury to approve charges of second-degree murder. In a statement, she said "a limited portion" of the park will reopen at midday Wednesday. The park's spokeswoman didn't return messages Tuesday from The Associated Press seeking comment on the claims. The ride was designed at the park, led by John Schooley with assistance from park co-owner Jeff Henry. "It . We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. This is likely where Caleb had been sitting. Riders are propelled by jets of water as they go over a hump while riding the world's tallest water slide called "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in 2014. was killed Sunday while riding "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. 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. All rights reserved. 90 Day Fiance's Hamza's Green Card Status 'Battle' Amid Memphis Divorce, '90 Day Fiance' Star Memphis Smith Alleges Hamza Moknii Was 'Abusive', 90 Day's Hamza Requested Paternity Test for Daughter Amid Memphis Split, Dont Be Tardys Kim Zolciak Is 'Heartbroken' Over House Foreclosure, Inside 90 Day Fiance's Tiffany and Dan's Split 'on Good Terms', Are MAFS Stars Chris and Paige Still Together? KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) A 10-year-old boy was decapitated as he rode a 168-foot tall waterslide at a water park in Kansas, a person familiar with the investigation said Wednesday. How a Freak Accident Happens. 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. USA Today reports a full investigation is underway. All rights reserved. "The indictment said the Verruckt water slide raft at Kansas City's Schlitterbahn Waterpark "went airborne and collided with the overhead hoops and netting" designed to keep . Winter Prosapio, a spokeswoman for Schlitterbahn, said the company welcomed the decision. Riders plummeted down the nearly vertical 17-story chutetaller than Niagara Fallsat speeds up to 70 miles per hour. The pair had hoped to ride the "World's Largest Waterslide" together. He hit a metal pole and was decapitated. We want to hear what you think about this article. It also can get old and degrade with use. North Dakota news site MyNDNow.com reports the boy's parents were with him at the park that day. ABC News talked with Esteban Castaneda, who witnessed the incident at the water park. A company spokeswoman said in a statement that Schlitterbahn's owners embraced the judge's decision, according to the Times. Lawyers for the other defendants either could not be reached on Saturday or did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lifeguard told Castaneda there was nothing he could do to help. Marshals said. But it didn't, so I worked there. 2 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. The slide is 168-feet tall and has 264 stairs leading to the top -- taller than the Statue of Liberty. All Rights Reserved. July 13 (UPI) --A judge has ruled a Kansas waterslide billed as the world's largest, where a boy was killed in 2016, will be demolished this summer.The 17-story Verruckt slide at Schlitterbahn . He would have fallen down without the raft.". Jeffrey W. Henry at the Verrckt waterslide that he helped design for a Kansas water park. The death of a 10-year-old boy on a 17-story water slide in Kansas will leave some parents wondering how safe water parks really are for their kids. "Before they took off I said, 'Brothers stick together' and [Caleb] said, 'I know, dad,'" Scott said. ", In a statement, Schlitterbahn officials said they "are deeply and intensely saddened for the Schwab family and all who were impacted by the tragic accident.". Henry faced a charge of second-degree murder. The two women riding in the raft with Caleb suffered minor facial injuries. Video by Nathan Truesdell At 169 feet tall, Verrckt was the tallest waterslide in the world. By Melissa Chan. Castaneda said that he heard booms coming from the area of the slide and then saw a body wash down the slide directly after the raft did. The two women in his raft, who were not related to Caleb, suffered minor injuries, police said. Past close calls reported after boy dies on waterslide Family took photos of friend's snapped harness; Details on 'Fox & Friends' Several passengers who rode the waterslide where a 10-year-old. 90 Day Fiance Stars Weve Lost Over the Years, Still Together? Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The slide is 168 feet tall and has 264. And, please, hug your kids just a little tighter today. The slide's name means "insane" in German. 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As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. A memorial service will be held Friday afternoon, Sprague said. Feb. 24, 2019. Schlitterbahn allegedly buried or downplayed these reports. A video showed Caleb was following all rider instructions when he died. Another rider, Kenneth Conrad, told WDAF-TV that during his trip down the waterslide last year with a friend, the friend's shoulder strap came "completely off." KANSAS CITY, Kan. 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. According to the lawsuit, Verrckts design violated nearly all aspects of longstanding industry safety standards.. ", But how can a ride this extreme be safe for anyone? She remembered a short video they were required to watch, though she didn't recall that it included any caveats about peril. Caleb Schwab died while riding a water slide at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, police 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. Caleb Schwab, the son of a state lawmaker, sustained a fatal "neck injury" at around 2:30 p.m. while riding the 168-foot-tall "Verruckt" (meaning "insane" in German) water slide, the Associated. It was a Sunday afternoon, August 7, 2016, the temperature a pleasant 78 degrees, as ten-year-old Caleb Schwab began the 264-step climb to the top of Verrckt, the world's tallest waterslide, which. ABC News talked with Esteban Castaneda, who. Kansas City Police also released more information about the incident Monday, calling the boy's death a "fatal neck injury at the end of the ride." 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. 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. Getty/Files. Sara Craig, who took her 14-year-old son and his friend to the park on Wednesday said: "I feel guilty having fun when a family is hurting so badly.. WARNING: The details in this story are graphic and may not be suitable for all readers. A witness named Kelsey Friedrichsen recalls, "It looked like he must have somehow been ejected from his seat, bounced around between the netting and the slide and just slid down. Miles, said there is no question that Fridays ruling about what occurred before the grand jury was correct and the judges reasoning legally sound.. They said all rides are inspected daily before opening. 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 . 'I'm not supposed to be here': Penn doc on mission to find treatments, PennDOT worker remains seriously injured after hit-and-run. Caleb Schwab in June 2016. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. He described a horrific scene after the boy's death. Caleb Schwab died Sunday on a slide at the . The dismissed charges were based upon improper "illegal" evidence presented to a grand jury, ruled Judge Robert Burns of Wyandotte County, according to KMBC. Among those indicted were Jeffrey Wayne Henry, a co-owner of Schlitterbahn Companies and a designer of the waterslide; John Timothy Schooley, also a designer of the slide; and Henry & Sons Construction Company, Inc., the corporation involved in building the slide. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. It was at that point that he noticed the boy appeared to have been decapitated. "We held each other and had a little emotional meltdown once we moved away from the immediate area," she says. 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. Today is the fifth anniversary of the traumatic death. A ride might be scary, but you figure that they have it figured out. Access to the Verruckt remained blocked by a 7-foot-high wooden fence. . Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Follow her on Twitter (@Spitupnsuburbs), where she chronicles her love of exercising and drinking coffee, but never simultaneously. WARNING: The details in this story are graphic and may not be suitable for all readers. "Caleb was a 10-year-old child, but in many ways, he was a man of God," Sprague said. Caleb, his parents and 3 brothers attended "elected officials day" at the water park on Sunday. "We will review the ruling carefully, including the court's observation that the ruling 'does not preclude the possibility that the State could continue to pursue this matter in a criminal court,' and take a fresh look at the evidence and applicable law in this tragic and troubling case to determine the best course forward.". 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. However, the particular ride that killed a 10-year old boy Sunday remains closed. 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. They were not related to the boy. The Velcro straps are just to make you feel safer. Past close calls reported after boy dies on waterslide. The slide is 168-feet tall and has 264 stairs leading to the top -- taller than the Statue of Liberty. It also can degrade with use. Castaneda said he had ridden the slide earlier in the day with his cousin's 14-year-old daughter. Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. We agree with the courts decision that the grand jury was not given a fair picture of the evidence relating to this tragic accident, Justin Johnston, a lawyer for Mr. Schooley, said. As his raft soared over the crest, Caleb was tossed toward the netting. A Kansas water park plans to tear down a giant water slide on which a 10-year-old boy died in 2016. The 10-year-old son of Kansas politician Scott Schwab died while riding the world's tallest waterslide, the 17-storey Verruckt, in Kansas City, The Sun reports. It's the scariest thing I've done.". "You don't think you're gonna die.". In early tests, rafts carrying sandbags flew off the slide, prompting engineers to tear down half of the ride and reconfigure some angles. In Touch Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. "It's an accident, but there is an accounting because someone was negligent," Caleb's father said on GMA. The person . By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. 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. Numerous elected officials and their families were in the park when the tragedy happened. Many questions are, for now, left unanswered. 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. The slide, known as Verrckt, which is German for crazy or insane, opened in 2014 and was marketed as the tallest waterslide in the world. 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. 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. The park was closed down after the incident Sunday and remained closed Monday. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! (They were also gunning for a Guinness World Record.) We dont 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., Tricia Bath, a lawyer for Mr. or redistributed. So they rode it again, only to see the restraint on her son's friend also come loose by the time it was over. "I didn't think much about it," she said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I wouldn't be surprised if they lack regulations on safety harnesses as well. 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.". Video: Murder charges are dismissed against owner of Kansas water park where 10-year-old boy was decapitated on 17-story slide GoPro footage shows the Schlitterbahn waterslide Verrckt that. Caleb Schwab died six years ago in the tragedy at Schlitterbahn Park, in Kansas, on a water slide called Verruckt, which means crazy in German. But once I took a closer look, I started to realize how complicated this story really was, and how this could have happened to anyone who went down that slide.. (David Strickland via AP). 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 designer of a Kansas waterslide that decapitated a 10-year-old boy was taken into custody after he arrived at a Texas airport late Monday, U.S. The child was riding on the Verruckt water slide when he died. The death of a 10-year-old at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas was even more devastating than could have been imagined with witnesses confirming that tragic child Caleb Schwab was decapitated while riding down the 168-foot-tall Verrckt slide! However, once the boys made it to the rafts, the operator informed the pair that they would not be Continue reading Brother Of Boy Decapitated On Kansas . All Rights 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Caleb Thomas Schwab, the son of Rep. Scott Schwab, died on the 17-story. Had either of the parents ridden the slide before? Anyone can read what you share. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Reserved. All Rights Reserved. In the aftermath . You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Speaking anonymously, a source close to the inquiry confirmed the boy was decapitated. The Verruckt ride will remain closed while the accident is investigated; the rest of the park is tentatively scheduled to reopen on Wednesday. Riders go down the slide in multi-person rafts and have to be at last 54 inches tall, according to the park's website. The water park passed a private inspection in June that included Verruckt, according to a document released by a Kansas state agency. The judge also sided with defense attorneys who complained that grand jurors were presented additional evidence that related to a death from a different Schlitterbahn waterpark, reports KMBC. Riders plummeted down the nearly vertical 17-story chutetaller than Niagara Fallsat speeds up to 70. When Conrad herself rode the slide, she expressed safety concerns about the straps to a water park lifeguard. The case focused on a waterslide at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kan. The boy's father, state Rep. Scott Schwab, thanked the community for the outpouring of support his family has received. He said there were two women sitting in the back of the raft with blood on them. It's like jumping off the Empire State Building. Caleb struck the protective overhead netting and the metal poles that supported it, according to court documents previously obtained by PEOPLE. The Verrckt German for "crazy" or "insane" had been named the world's tallest waterslide by Guinness World Records. Castaneda said two other woman were strapped into the raft, and the first position of the raft was empty. Are Tarek and Christina Still Business Partners After 'Flip or Flop'? Henry and Schooley were ultimately indicted on charges of aggravated battery, aggravated endangerment of a child, interference with law enforcement, and involuntary manslaughter. The Nebraska man said he "just held on," and a video shot by his wife shows the strap loose at the ride's end. 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 died Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, while riding the Verruckt, a water slide that's billed as the world's largest, at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kan. (David Strickland / AP) KANSAS . 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. Riders go down the slide in multi-person rafts and have to be at last 54 inches tall, according to the park's website. Of Liberty witnessed the incident at the time and were treated for facial and... Dies on waterslide curated by the Atlantic day with his cousin 's 14-year-old daughter either of the when... At that point that he noticed the boy appeared to have been.! 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