Tech claims Orlando thrill ride operator ignored safety concerns he raised before teen fell to his death
CBSN
Orlando, Fla. — A maintenance technician alleged on Wednesday that he raised safety issues with the operators of a central Florida amusement ride before a 14-year-old boy fell to his death but his concerns were never addressed.
Austin Campbell-Alexander said in the state whistleblower lawsuit that the Orlando Free Fall ride at Icon Park had sensors that were modified to accommodate people whose height or weight were outside safety limits. He also alleged that overheated cylinders prevented seats from securing properly and that the drop ride's metal structure had cracks in its joints. Campbell-Alexander also said he and his colleagues weren't given any training on ride maintenance or patron safety.
"He brought these concerns to his manager and the owner of the ride, and basically they didn't do what they should have done," Greg Schmitz, one of his attorneys, said in a phone interview.
