The ride was designed at the park, led by John Schooley with assistance from park co-owner Jeff Henry. There are so many questions remaining about the rides construction. The park knew the ride could kill people, officials say", "Court documents detail alleged negligence in design of Schlitterbahn water slide that killed 10-year-old", "Designers of water slide that decapitated boy 'had no technical qualifications', "Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry arrested in Texas on Verruckt-related charges", "Schlitterbahn executives charged with second-degree murder in Verruckt case", "Park owner, slide designer charged with murder in boy's waterpark death", "Kansas water park executives charged with murder in boy's death", "Schlitterbahn's Verruckt designer John Schooley arrested in Dallas", "Lawyer for Verruckt designer Schooley: 'Weight of evidence in this caseis weak', "First trial begins in Schlitterbahn tragedy", "Judge dismisses charges over boy's death on Schlitterbahn's Verruckt", "State of Kansas vs. Jeff Henry, John Schooley, Henry & Sons, Tyler Miles, KC Waterpark Management (Motion to Dismiss)", "In the District Court of Wyandotte County, Kansas Criminal Court Department", "Judge Dismisses Charges in Boy's Decapitation on 170-Foot-Tall Water Slide", "Schlitterbahn charges tossed. It opened on July 10, 2014, after multiple delays. In the statement, police said: "Caleb Schwab was 1 of 3 passengers riding in a boat on the Verruckt Water Slide on August 7th, 2016. Many lawmakers were at Schlitterbahn for Elected Official Day. The Verruckt ride, which means "insane" in German, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). It was successful, but not to the degree Schlitterbahn and co-owner Jeff Henry had originally expected. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. The ride, which is taller than both the Statue of Liberty and Niagra Falls, left even its creator terrified. While this opens up a theoretical basis to claim substantial damages in a wrongful death . "And we didn't know whether we had it figured out or not.". I didnt understand what was going on so I only saw Caleb sliding down the last half of the slide, and then I saw the blood., Witness to water slide accident: I saw him slide down, "and then I saw the blood" https://t.co/7EqQ8ToDxd https://t.co/zUYdNUrXBm. A Wyandotte County grand jury indicted the following on charges of reckless second-degree murder: Jeffrey Wayne Henry, a co-owner of Schlitterbahn Companies and a designer of the . The opening of the 17-storey free-fall water ride was revealed to have been pushed back twice with footage of the ride being tested showing rafts flying from the huge ride. The ride, which is taller than both the Statue of Liberty and Niagra Falls, left even its creator terrified. Plans for an $85 million Margaritaville Resort would take the place of the former Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Footage of the rafts flying off the ride have been revealed as safety concerns over the water slide continue to mount, The creator of the ride admitted they had struggled to engineer the ride with test runs seeing the rafts catapult off the track, Caleb Schwab was killed when he went on the Verruckt ride, which has since been exposed as having serious safetyrisks, People who went on the Verruckt slide have revealed they were plagued by problems including their belts coming apart, Caleb Thomas Schwab was decapitated while on the ride with his family, including father and Kansas lawmaker Scott Schwab, devastated, The ride is the world's tallest water slide, Shocking test video shows rafts flying off waterslide where boy, 10, was decapitated as complaints flood in about rides safety straps, Chilling moment incel mass shooter roamed streets with shotgun during 8 minute rampage that killed five in Plymouth, UK weather: Snow and ice warnings cover length of country as freezing conditions spark travel delays, Drunk British Airways crew member ran naked around holiday buffet in front of shocked tourists, Tragedy as mum, 26, is found dead hours after calling her ex when she had a nightmare, Parents 'killed' daughter, 16, by 'allowing weight to balloon to 23st before she died covered in maggots in filthy room', Rapist cop David Carrick could KEEP 22k Met Police pension after being found guilty of torturing and abusing 12 women, I'm an ex Met policewoman who was harassed by sleazy cops - here's what chief Rowley must do to stop next David Carrick. GoPro footage shows the Schlitterbahn waterslide Verrckt that . [3], Verrckt was designed to consist of two drops, the initial being a 17-story plunge, with a five-story uphill midsection. [53], On February 22, 2019, criminal charges were dismissed against Henry, Schooley, and Miles because inadmissible evidence had been presented to the grand jury. Kansas Senator David Haley has since demanded better regulation of amusement parks with it revealed theVerruckt ride had not been inspected by the state since it was opened. Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort New Braunfels 381 E. Austin St. New Braunfels, Texas 78130 (830) 625-2351: Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston 2109 Gene Lucas Blvd. How Much Money He Makes, Lisa Maries Memorial To Be Held at Graceland: Family Request, More, Jinger Duggar Reflects on Growing Up Under 'Cult-Like' Religious Beliefs, Idaho Murder Suspect Bryan Kohberger Sent DM to Victim Before Her Death, Inside Sister Wives Janelles First Vacation Post-Kody Split: Photos, 'The Family Chantel' Stars Chantel, Pedro's Cryptic Messages Amid Divorce, Are You The One Is Back for Season 9! Keith Myers /TNS Show More Show Less 2 of 17 In 2014, the Schiltterbahn . Verrckt ( German meaning "crazy" or "insane", listen) was a water slide located at the Schlitterbahn Kansas City water park in Kansas City, Kansas, United States. KANSAS CITY, KANSAS -- Kansas City, Kansas police say a young boy died on a popular water slide at a local water park Sunday, CBS affiliate KCTV reported. Demolition of Verrckt began on November 1, 2018. However, Henry clarified that now that the ride is open, it still hazardous, but in the safest way. Teen Dies in Rafting Accident After Truck Pulls Him from Pond to Parking Lot. Caleb Schwab died in front of his family while riding a 168ft-high water slide in Kansas, billed as theworld's tallest. Sandbags on the raft frequently went airborne at that point, as in some leaked viral videos. Car Show: Police, Loretta Lynn Survived Multiple Falls and a Stroke Prior to Her Death at 90 but She Never Gave Up. Meanwhile, Schlitterbahn reopened the KCK location for the 2017 season, although it held back on advertising in the Kansas City area and continued to wait for permission to tear Verruckt down. Kansas officials have charged two more Schlitterbahn Waterparks employees in the decapitation death of a 10-year-old boy at the New Braunfels company's Kansas City park . "It's dangerous, but it's a safe dangerous now," he added. The 2 other adult female riders in the boat, not related tothe victim, sustained minor facial injuries, and were transported and treated at area hospitals.". [7] Initial attempts to pitch the idea to vendors at the show failed,[2] so Henry decided to build the slide himself,[8] enlisting John Schooley as the ride's lead designer. "Schlitterbahn is a family water park, but this isn't a family ride. Caleb Thomas Schwab, the son of Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab, was killed Sunday while riding "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. This is a terrific settlement for a family who suffered a needless and avoidable tragedy. It appeared those who reached him first "just realised he was dead and didn't try to revive him", she added. May 30, 2018. She said: "There was a woman being treated for some kind of injury on her face and head. Even those werent enough to save 10-year-old Caleb Schwab, who was decapitated. 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. On November 6, 2020, Homefield LLC signed an agreement with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas to fund the redevelopment of the former Schlitterbahn lot for $90 million into an amateur sports complex. "His friend was screaming for help and I think that's when staff members and medics and stuff started running.". As a result, the second drop was changed from 45 degrees to 22 degrees, an extra 5 feet (1.5m) was added to the uphill portion of the ride to slow the rafts,[23][24] and a series of metal hoops supporting netting were added into areas where rafts had flown off in early testing. However, we have restored the page for those who are interested in rider requirements. Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. View our online Press Pack. John Schooley, who designed the killer slide, said that during testing he "didn't know whether he was going to survive" a run on the ride. Independent investigation . "That should tell you something about how I felt about it", he said. The official Facebook page of Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. Don't bother going to the site of the former Schlitterbahn Kansas City to do some urban exploration. In a documentary,The Water Slide, produced by the Atlantic, footage taken after Schooley took part in a test run on the ride shows him saying: "That was truly exciting. "A lot of our math was based on roller coasters at first, and that didn't translate to a water slide like this. The opening of the 17-storeyfreefall water ride has been revealed to have beenpushed back twice with further safetyconcerns coming to lightafter young Caleb Schwab was decapitated while on the ride, with horrified witnesses recounting the horror blood-streaks left on the ride. They were not related to the boy. Following the tragedy, Michelle told the show about her eldest son's screams of terror after the fatal accident. [21] The adjacent Wyandotte County Courthouse Annex building was demolished beginning in February 2021,[22] and the demolition of Schlitterbahn itself was completed before September. Schwab and his wife released a statement confirming it was their son Caleb Thomas Schwab, whose family were at the park with him when he died. Dad Scott, who has had a decade in the Kansas House, toldGood Morning Americaof the last time he spoke to Caleb just before he and Nathan set off for the ride,which has now been torn down. Another witness Esteban Castaneda told ABC News that he and his 14-year-old cousin had ridden the slide earlier that day and the teen told him that towards the end of the ride, the Velcro on her belt had come undone. [13] This led to an uneven weight distribution that contributed to the raft going airborne, despite the cumulative weight of 546 pounds (248kg), less than the maximum recommended weight of 550 pounds (250kg). died on the Verruckt attraction at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City. Kansas Police Department has since released a statement, expressing their condolences to the Schwab family after the tragic loss of Caleb. Groundbreaking took place September 18, 2007 on the land formerly occupied by the Wyandotte County Fairgrounds and the Unified Government courthouse annex, across Interstate 435 from the Kansas Speedway and Village West. No one had ever done anything like this.". 2023 Cable News Network. [3], In November 2012, Schlitterbahn announced plans for the creation of the world's tallest and fastest water slide at its Kansas City park, to open in mid-2013. A lot of our math was based on rollercoasters at first, and that didn't translate to a water slide like this. He said: "I'm still recovering mentally. Video Opinion . Terese Hendrix was sitting in her living room when she heard some . Police said investigations into the incident were ongoing. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. [22], On August 7, 2016, Caleb Schwab, the 10-year-old son of Kansas state representative Scott Schwab, died while riding Verrckt. Witness Kelsey Friedrichsen, earlier told PEOPLE that she and her boyfriend were on their way up to the top of the 168-foot Verruckt water slide for their scheduled 3 p.m. ride when they saw a large group gathered at the bottom. WARNING: The details in this story are graphic and may not be suitable for all readers. As of today, August 7, we are five years after his horrific death. On March 23, 2018, a grand jury issued an indictment against Schlitterbahn and Tyler Austin Miles, former director of operations, charging them with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery, aggravated child endangerment, and interference with law enforcement. Galveston, Texas 77554 (409) 770-9283 Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? "It was surreal. Designers of the waterslide had so many problems they had to delay the grand opening. [3][9] Henry had described the new ride to the Travel Channel crew as a "speed blaster", a term he had likewise improvised. For other inquiries, Contact Us. [1] Phase 2, named Schlitterbahn Vacation Village Resort was originally planned to include over 1,000 hotel rooms, a Scheels sporting goods store, and a Riverwalk area consisting of shops and restaurants on 300 acres surrounding the water park. "That was when my boyfriend said, 'I think there is someone else.'". [14] When the park opened, delays in construction and testing of the ride led to its opening date being pushed back to June 5,[15] and then June 29, after the lower portion of the ride was rebuilt, to coincide with a television special about the ride;[16] the park later canceled this opening date and two days of media previews following further delays. Caleb Schwab, 10, was killed in an accident on a ride at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kan., his family said on Aug. 7, 2016. Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Jessica Alba Celebrates Her Son's 5th Birthday with Family, Plus More Celebs at Disney Parks! A Warner Bros. [13] Engineers who inspected the ride also commented that the ride's netting, used in areas where riders travel up to 70 miles per hour (110km/h), "posed its own hazard because a rider moving at high speeds could easily lose a limb if they hit it". Court documents also revealed 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 overhead hoops and netting before the fatality". Two woman with whom he was riding suffered minor injuries. It was later revealed that at least 13 other people had suffered non-fatal injuries from hitting the netting above the slide. He said: "As soon as I hit the bottom of the first curve the shoulder strap just kind of busted loose. The Lagoon at the original Schlitterbahn, in New Braunfels, in 1991. The opening of the 17-storeyfreefall water ride has been revealed to have beenpushed back twice. Henry, who had no formal engineering education, decided age 14 was better. He flew from Verruckt! The death of a 10-year-old Kansas boy who was decapitated in a 2016 water slide accident led to criminal charges of recklessness and second-degree murder against the owner, . Schlitterbahn in Galveston was open and busy on Monday, but many parents took precautions. The Verruckt ride, which means "insane" in German, was open at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, Kansas, when Caleb, the son of Kansas lawmaker Scott Schwab, was killed.. It was a Sunday afternoon, August 7 . In the statement, police said: "Caleb Schwab was 1 of 3 passengers riding in a boat on the Verruckt Water Slide on August 7th, 2016. Caleb Schwab, 10, died in front of his family while riding a 168ft-high water slide in Kansas at Schlitterbahn Water Park. Where Do 1000-Lb. I remember hearing about the accident on the news and thought that the park was going to shut down. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. . Eyewitness Melanie Gocke toldCNN: "I heard the noise, and I looked over immediately, and I saw his broken neck and him sliding down the slide leaving a blood trail.". I think they need to fix the jostling around like your neck gets pretty (shaken)around like really good and you hit your head a lot, a witness said. [25][28] Although the park reopened three days later, the ride remained closed. Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas to Reopen Wednesday After 10-Year-Old's Death on Slide Caleb Schwab, 10, was killed in an accident on a ride at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kan., his . When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. [13][21], The starting point of the ride, at 168 feet (51m), was taller than either Niagara Falls or the foot-to-torch portion of the Statue of Liberty. [14] Because it was beyond the 120 feet (37m) that zoning codes permitted, the design required a variance. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. Kansas at Schlitterbahn for Elected Official Day Schlitterbahn, in 1991 the site of the 17-storeyfreefall water ride has revealed. Galveston, Texas 77554 ( 409 ) 770-9283 do you have a story for the Sun Online news?! Designed at the original Schlitterbahn, in 1991 14 ] Because it was the! Staff members and medics and stuff started running. `` Survived multiple Falls and a Stroke Prior to her at... It '', she added felt about it '', he said: `` schlitterbahn kansas city death video soon as I hit bottom... 'M still recovering mentally she added many parents took precautions multiple Falls and a Stroke Prior her... 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