KS - Caleb Schwab, 10, dies on 17-story Schlitterbahn waterpark slide, Aug 2016

[Hatfield]

Thanks for the update. From same link:

"A spokeswoman for Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts, Winter Prosapio, confirmed the settlement, which was first reported by The Kansas City Star. She declined to elaborate, other than to say the park's owners plan to follow through on demolishing the slide as announced in November." bbm

Article does not say settlement terms are confidential, but they may be. IDK.

I don't remember seeing this ^ back in Nov, but for many ppl, demolishing the slide should come as a relief. JM2cts.

I have to wonder if the terms of the agreement had the ride being demolished as part of the agreement.

That would make sense to me as I am sure the family did not want anybody else hurt on that ride and they may have included that as one of their requests in the agreement.

Kudos to them if they did that.

 

[gregjrichards]

Thank you for the update that the park has settled with Caleb's family I am pleased the park did so without a long drawn out, contentious and stressful court battle. I hope safety will be the top priority in the design and operation of the replacement ride.

May Caleb Rest In Peace.

 

[JohnPaul]

Thank you for the update that the park has settled with Caleb's family I am pleased the park did so without a long drawn out, contentious and stressful court battle.

The park probably did not settle.....the family most likely did

The family would probably end up losing a long drawn out court battle, it all comes down to the lawyers.

Who do you think can afford better lawyers? The park or the family? Hopefully I don't need to answer that for anybody.

The familys lawyer probably advised them to basically take whatever the heck the park is offering and be done with it.

 

[kaen]

The park probably did not settle.....the family most likely did

The family would probably end up losing a long drawn out court battle, it all comes down to the lawyers.

Who do you think can afford better lawyers? The park or the family? Hopefully I don't need to answer that for anybody.

The familys lawyer probably advised them to basically take whatever the heck the park is offering and be done with it.

As I recall there is a cap on settlements in KS. I am sure both parties wanted this to end. The family wouldn't want to keep going over this. The park wouldn't want to keep going over this. It is so tragic. Lest we forget, there were the two women who were riding with this poor child. I hope they are taken care of psychologically and financially. They won't be able to get this scene out of their heads.

 

[Jax49]

Another article about the settlement and pending action.

Settlement reached between Caleb Schwab's family and Schlitterbahn


http://www.kshb.com/news/local-news...etween-caleb-schawbs-family-and-schlitterbahn

While terms of the settlement were not released, attorney Sean Pickett, who is not affiliated with the case, said both Schlitterbahn and Zebec likely paid big damages.

Despite the case being settled with Schlitterbahn and Zebec, the Schwab family attorney stated that “additional claims are being pursued against others.”

Pickett said the family may take action against other parties, like the park's designer and builder.

 

[al66pine]

I have to wonder if the terms of the agreement had the ride being demolished as part of the agreement.
That would make sense to me as I am sure the family did not want anybody else hurt on that ride and they may have included that as one of their requests in the agreement.
Kudos to them if they did that.

bbm

In November Schlitterbahn announced plan to demolish that ride.
Possible that the demo was included as a settlement term, which was reached more recently - in Jan. IDK.
(Per http://www.kwch.com/content/news/Settlement-reached-410428425.html dated Jan 11.)

Who knows what ride/ feature may be built to replace it. Hoping it is safe.


_____________________________________________
From my earlier post:
"....spokeswoman for Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts, Winter Prosapio, confirmed the settlement, which was first reported by The Kansas City Star. She declined to elaborate, other than to say the park's owners plan to follow through on demolishing the slide as announced in November." bbm ....
I don't remember seeing this ^ back in Nov, but for many ppl, demolishing the slide should come as a relief. JM2cts."

 

[AmyPond]

Interesting that they could bring charges against the designer and builder. I wonder what they found with their independent investigation of the ride.

 

[Betty P]

The park probably did not settle.....the family most likely did

The family would probably end up losing a long drawn out court battle, it all comes down to the lawyers.

Who do you think can afford better lawyers? The park or the family? Hopefully I don't need to answer that for anybody.

The familys lawyer probably advised them to basically take whatever the heck the park is offering and be done with it.

How sad that there's no real justice, nor any attempt by Caleb ' s dad's fellow legislators to re-regulate this industry in their state. No justice for the innocent public.

This incident and similar ones in recent years has opened my eyes as a consumer. The rate at which states are dropping, weakening or ******ing safety inspections for amusement park rides is very troubling. I'll never go to another amusement park again and will discourage my family from doing the same until there is major reform in safety regulations. Not even Disney attractions.

 

[MzOpinion8d]

bbm

In November Schlitterbahn announced plan to demolish that ride.
Possible that the demo was included as a settlement term, which was reached more recently - in Jan. IDK.
(Per http://www.kwch.com/content/news/Settlement-reached-410428425.html dated Jan 11.)

Who knows what ride/ feature may be built to replace it. Hoping it is safe.


_____________________________________________
From my earlier post:
"....spokeswoman for Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts, Winter Prosapio, confirmed the settlement, which was first reported by The Kansas City Star. She declined to elaborate, other than to say the park's owners plan to follow through on demolishing the slide as announced in November." bbm ....
I don't remember seeing this ^ back in Nov, but for many ppl, demolishing the slide should come as a relief. JM2cts."

I'll be glad when that thing is gone. Every time I drive past it I get a sick feeling. I can't imagine what it must be like for those who knew and loved Caleb.

Editing to add that we've been to Schlitterbahn and enjoyed it but I don't know if I'll ever be able to go there again. I just don't trust them. Safety is clearly not their priority - money is. So I have a hard time with the thought of giving them any of mine.

 

[gregjrichards]

I'll be glad when that thing is gone. Every time I drive past it I get a sick feeling. I can't imagine what it must be like for those who knew and loved Caleb.

Editing to add that we've been to Schlitterbahn and enjoyed it but I don't know if I'll ever be able to go there again. I just don't trust them. Safety is clearly not their priority - money is. So I have a hard time with the thought of giving them any of mine.

I totally understand why your trust is gone in the park. I'm glad the slide is being demolished but it should never have been there in the first place. The fact the weight scales were faulty and they had insufficient and poorly trained staff speaks volumes.

 

[Wyle_E_Coyote]

More than six months have passed since a young boy was killed at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, Kan. The accidental death — on a water slide called Verrückt — stunned the community and the nation. It was a horror.

The ride is now permanently closed. But that alone is not sufficient to prevent future tragedies.

In the weeks after 10-year-old Caleb Schwab died, public officials promised a full investigation, as well as a review of the rules and regulations surrounding amusement park rides. To date, both commitments remain unfilled.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article132053379.html#storylink=cpy

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[al66pine]

More than six months have passed since a young boy was killed at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, Kan. ...In the weeks after 10-year-old Caleb Schwab died, public officials promised a full investigation, as well as a review of the rules and regulations surrounding amusement park rides. To date, both commitments remain unfilled.
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article132053379.html#storylink=cpy
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{{ETA: Wyle_E_Coyote TY very much for the update}}

(^sbm) Public officials promised? Imo, editorials should not just spout stmts like this. Who specifically is article referring to?
Did these P.O.s promise---
--- to conclude investigation and release findings to gen pub within six months? IDK.
--- to review rules & regulations re amusement park rides & make recommendations within six months? IDK.

Did KC Star staff contact these unnamed officials re status of investigation six months later? ? IDK? If so, no direct, specific mention re who staff contacted. Who, if anyone, was contacted re review of regulations? IDK.
Despite what the mayor told {ETA: when? Sept? last week?} the KC Star "Editorial Board," not clear to me whether mayor originally promised anything at time of death or shortly thereafter.

Again, not offering my opinion re investigation or rules review. Just commenting re KC Star editorial. JM2cts.


RIP Caleb. Thoughts & prayers to your fam, friends, & community.

 

[Morag]

{{ETA: Wyle_E_Coyote TY very much for the update}}

(^sbm) Public officials promised? Imo, editorials should not just spout stmts like this. Who specifically is article referring to?
Did these P.O.s promise---
--- to conclude investigation and release findings to gen pub within six months? IDK.
--- to review rules & regulations re amusement park rides & make recommendations within six months? IDK.

Did KC Star staff contact these unnamed officials re status of investigation six months later? ? IDK? If so, no direct, specific mention re who staff contacted. Who, if anyone, was contacted re review of regulations? IDK.
Despite what the mayor told {ETA: when? Sept? last week?} the KC Star "Editorial Board," not clear to me whether mayor originally promised anything at time of death or shortly thereafter.

Again, not offering my opinion re investigation or rules review. Just commenting re KC Star editorial. JM2cts.


RIP Caleb. Thoughts & prayers to your fam, friends, & community.

Editorials are not news stories, which are intended to answer the five W's and the H. (Who, what, when, where, why and how). It is presumed that anyone reading the editorial is familiar (or can familiarize themselves with) with the facts of the story. The editorial, an opinion of the paper's editorial board, is based on all the previous reporting in the paper.

Former journalist and journalism major

 

[al66pine]

Editorials are not news stories, which are intended to answer the five W's and the H. (Who, what, when, where, why and how). It is presumed that anyone reading the editorial is familiar (or can familiarize themselves with) with the facts of the story. The editorial, an opinion of the paper's editorial board, is based on all the previous reporting in the paper.

Former journalist and journalism major

Morag
Thank you for your post ^. Good reminders.

 

[gregjrichards]

"The parents of the young boy who lost his life this past summer while riding down a slide at a Kansas water park are speaking out for the first time in a new interview.

'Six went to the park and five came back,' said Scott Schwab in an interview Monday morning on Good Morning America.

The Kansas House representative was referring to the day that his son Caleb, 10, was decapitated in front of his older brother during a family outing to the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...n-killed-water-slide-speak.html#ixzz4Yak4SshF

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Family of 10-year-old boy decapitated on America's tallest water slide reach two more settlements after son's brutal death at Kansas amusement park

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4410080/Settlements-family-boy-decapitated-waterslide.html

 

[MaryG12]

I remember when this horrific accident first hit the news last year and did some research on the history of that "water ride" and found a very good article on it over at GrantLand that answered a lot of questions I had. The main one being, the individuals who designed VERRÜCKT, one who was Jeff Henry, were not certified amusement park ride engineers (the other was John Schooley). Throw into the mix the fact they were prone to using salvage materials for their rides and well...

I am reminded of something my dear late mother said many many years ago: that certain activities do not mix at all (VERRÜCKT would be one of them) and to be candid, I am actually surprised there are not more water ride deaths at amusement parks.

My condolences to the Schwab family for the loss of their son.

 

[gregjrichards]

"The family of a 10-year-old boy who died after he was decapitated on a giant waterslide at a Kanas water park will receive nearly $20 million in settlement payments, according to court documents.

The largest payment to Caleb Schwab's family, $14 million, will come from SVV 1 and KC Water Park, two companies associated with the Texas-based water park operator Schlitterbahn, The Kansas City Star reports.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...sas-waterslide-receive-20M.html#ixzz4g8xAmW8A

 

[GiantPickle]

I am glad these companies are forced to pay out big dollars. Perhaps they wont make short cuts in the next design or they'll stop designing all together. Sure is better to spend an extra $1million on straps that function properly than $20 million on death settlements.

 

[Tssiemer]

So the life of a 10 year old is worth 20 million dollars. That's good to know I guess.


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