With opening day of Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City approaching, the Verrückt water slide still stands as a reminder of the grisly death of 10-year-old Caleb Schwab last year.
When the Verrückt slide opened in 2014, it was billed as “the world’s tallest water slide.” Thousands of thrill seekers went down the slide in rafts propelled by powerful water jets that sometimes sent the lightweight rafts airborne.
A safety net that was installed by engineers to keep riders safe decapitated Caleb on August 7.
Caleb’s family reached a wrongful death settlement with the park’s owners in January. The park’s owners announced last year that the slide would close permanently.
But the water slide still stands due to a court order preventing the dismantling of the slide during investigations.
Kansas governor tightens inspection requirements for amusement parks after boy's waterslide death. https://t.co/ySVp06iQB3 pic.twitter.com/1fmKxQqz7b
— ABC News (@ABC) April 25, 2017
According to Kansascity.com, Schlitterbahn park officials say the physical investigations of the slide have “long been over.”
Park officials are understandably anxious to dismantle the spooky slide, which will likely remain standing until after the Schlitterbahn water park closes for the season.
“[I]t’s very difficult to get in the large equipment necessary to dismantle the slide with guests in our park,” said Winter Prosapio, a spokeswoman for Schlitterbahn.
“We believe it’s very upsetting for everyone to have this slide up and are hopeful that we will get word that we can take it down very soon,” Prosapio said.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark opening day is set for May 26.
So sad that baby had to lose his life in that awful manner. ?
I remember this story. It was very scary and creepy how that happened. I’m glad to hear that the owners have settled with the family (though that doesn’t bring their baby back) and want it torn down. Some park owners would fight to keep it up if it made a lot of money. Condolences to his family. I wouldn’t wish this pain on any parent.
This was of course a horrible story and I understand why this slide needs to be removed for many reasons. However, this is a testament for how revered white lives are in this country. To this day, I hate that NFL games are still played in a venue where so many black/poor people suffered and died. The New Orleans super dome could have been turned into a “Katrina” museum to honor all the lives that were lost. But no, the who gives a f*ck rule applies to us.
I remember this story. Reminds me of someone I know who lost her baby while giving birth due to doctor’s negligence. She can’t even have more kids. They settled and bought a big house but to this day she still grieves.
Wait… what happened? A boy was killed How
I think as he was sliding down, he became airborne and whatever he hit was sharp and unfortunately u know the rest….
And his brother was waiting at the bottom of the slide for him!!!
What does one story have to do with the other? So many people die every year to accidents, natural disasters, homicides, suicides and of natural causes that it would be impossible to recognize every location. While I agree the slide should be dismantled, I think it has been decided by the company that if they wish to remain open, that they’d better remove it. It has nothing to do with his being white.
Yes there should have been a dedication to all those who died in Katrina and the team should have taken notice, but that’s greed on the owner not on white or black people. Lots of people died there of various races, but people care more about money than they do life.
With all of that being said, why would any parent take their child to the park now in the first place??? There are other parks and rides that have not had any controversy or deaths. I was done with amusement parks years ago due to severe headaches, migraines, and back issues, so I can’t ride those crazy rides anymore anyway. However, now that I have a little boy, I don’t even want him going to places like that, but I know he will need to because he needs to enjoy his childhood. I think these parks need to have tougher safety inspections to prevent injuries and deaths. Makes no damn sense for a child to die anyway, let alone from an amusement park ride. When shit like that happens, they need to permanently close the park and put them out of business. Sad for Caleb’s family even almost a year later. Cute little fellow gone too soon.
All parties were at fault. They give the height and weight requirements for a reason. He was too small to be on that ride. But then there should have been someone from the park there to stop him. Trust I lived at these places when I was younger and I was short and tiny…..and had plenty of adults who made sure I didn’t try it.
From the title I originally thought they might be trying to keep the ride open or figuring out a way to re-open it. Thankfully its just a logistical issue but they need to just shut down the waterpark until they can get that taken care of. Honestly, I’m surprised they weren’t forced out of business from the settlement. I would cut my losses and try a new business.
There’s a difference between a natural disaster and a man-made contraption that decapitated a child.
Is Dump gonna get on that ride and make America great again for us all.
omg so sad
You need Jesus. I don’t wish death on anyone. Remember, it can always come back on you or your loved ones.
This is why my feet stay on the ground.
Ctfu!!!!!!
First of all, let’s not forget, what happened in New Orleans WAS a failure of a man made structure: the levees. Here,the common factor is that a person/people suffered and/or died in a structure. In one, people suffered atrocities that we will ever comprehend and people celebrate in said structure to this day. In the above story, 1 death is enough to destroy the structure, not “improve” the structure. If white or rich people suffered in NO, instead of black and poor, I promise you, the superdome would have been demolished or in the least made into a museum to commemorate those who suffered there.
The disaster in New Orleans was not a “typical” one that should blend in with other incidents in the U.S. I think you would agree with that, or why would we commemorate it every year. You confirmed what I said above. The company that owns the slide decided after ONE death, that it should be demolished (as it should). Many were attacked, raped, or died in the superdome and that place is still used to make money. White sons of state senators, like the one who died on the slide, are important in this country. Random, poor, black people of color are not. Period. This country definitely has a history of that.
There should have been national outrage over the dome going on with business as usual. I know I will never set foot in that place.
Dump trying to eliminate ACA is killing millions of people. You need to send the same message to him and his cronies. If that is the case folks in their families should be dropping like flies.
So sad , it make my Heart and soul Sad, RIP.
I Know that’s right.
Many, many moons ago, in this little sleepy town, a circus came to town, and many of Us couldn’t wait to get there, they had a ride that looked like a bullet, and I will tell no l!e, a friend was riding it, and her as screamed so long, loud and so hard, That they had to stop the ride , and let her behind off that ride.
Omg,, Forgive Me Jesus, I am Lmao.
You are so on point with that! I agree with You.
Yea Especially the persons over seeing the rides.
Great Comment, and on point, Thanks for
that Great truth.
It sure Is.
They need to take the slide down, Period, the people who own it must be Nutz, Greedy OR BOTH.
You said a mouth full, and just like
the old saying goes, Money is the
root to all evil.
Yes that was a Huge Disaster , and the Dome should
have been made into a Memorial grounds, Kind of like they did in New York (9-11) and that Bombing in Oklahoma, City they put up a Memorial. .
Lord Have Mercy.
I absolutely agree!!! Life and death are in the power of the tongue. I don’t like Trump but I sure don’t wish death on him.
And they need to stop letting teenagers operate these rides.
The job probably pays horribly so they allow teenagers to apply and then choose to hire them. They need to properly train age appropriate people to operate the rides, which are considered machines. These companies also need to stop thinking employees are going to be happy and follow safety standards when you give them very little pay and treat them like dog shit. I will never understand how any company can make millions, and for some billions, of dollars and then pay employees minimum wage or even a few dollars more and expect them to survive and be content with that. It’s sad. Just look at any company’s Annual Report and you will see how selfish they are with their money. These companies can afford to pay employees more money, they just choose not to which is why many employees get the hell on and look for better opportunities.
Thanks! My heart just drops anytime I hear about a child dying, especially if the death could have been prevented, So sad. Caleb had his whole life ahead of him. I have a little boy too. My heart goes out to his family.
exactly! horrendous situations occurred at that dome during Katrina. I agree with your opinion 1000%
I don’t wish it on anyone but did chuckle a bit. Just let him back to his old life he misses so much.
#facts ?
You make my Heart Happy Knowing that in the Blogosphere, there are some great people with heart, and kindness to share with others. You are on point again, Thanks.
He was too young to have been allowed to ride the slide.
Maybe they should have waited until he was a teenager.
Yea and they have kids running them these days. No bueno
We should use that for the Death Penalty. Give the convicts some fun before their heads get chopped off…
You’re saying two different things. The levees were created to protect people from floods, people are not celebrating on the levees. The super dome was created for football games and events and was used to house people who either did not leave when they were warned to or possibly couldn’t afford to leave. This ride was strictly created for enjoyment and turned out to be deadly. I’m all in with white people not caring as much about black lives but you are severely reaching trying to connect these two events.
I truly feel that not everyone, myself included knows the extent of what happened there. I was taken aback by what I just read in your post.
I know there was a need for Marshall Law in N.O. and that it was essentially post-apocalyptic in many ways. However, without education of the truth no one will demand justice. I value every life and I’m a white woman. There must be some way we can educate the public into truly hearing the horrors that occurred.