Mother of teen killed from amusement park ride fall says death was ‘preventable’ l GMA 

"Preventable" is an UNDERSTATEMENT. It should have never happened! Sadly, the family is within their right to litigate. The kid's death was horrifying!!

As a bigger person I’ve been told I couldn’t go on certain rides and while at the time it’s embarrassing, the workers that told me could have saved my life 🤷🏻‍♀️ They make restrictions for a reason, they have to be enforced and it’s unfortunate that no worker stopped him

My cousin is friends with one of his parents. She had to beg people to stop sharing the video of his fall on FB and making jokes about what happened, his weight, etc. I hate what society has become.

So sad. Weight and height limits for each ride should be posted for each and every ride and be 100% enforced. If it hurts someone’s feelings well that’s too bad, but they will live to see another day. This loss of life was preventable, many parties will live with regret for a long time. The more dangerous the ride is the more security restraints should be implemented. I hope his family finds the strength to find peace.

There isn't a bigger loss than that of a child. I can't imagine how a parent can cope much less move on. Rest in Peace.

When you think about it, it's kinda ridiculous that we basically let children (usually older teens or early 20s) operate these dangerous rides and put lives pretty much in their hands.

This is absolutely heartbreaking. I couldn't imagine losing a child. Oh, the pain she must be experiencing. So sad. My dad is a bigger dude. I remember him squeezing into a roller coaster because he didn't want me to ride alone. He wanted to keep me safe. He told me his seat restraint never properly latched on during the whole ride, he felt like he was going to fly out. It was obvious my dad didn't fit properly in the seat, but none of the safety staff said anything about it. Needless to say, when we returned to that park a year later, he didn't take that ride again. He said "I don't have 9 lives like a cat". I'm glad he didn't ride again. The point of my story is that these ride "checkers" are often poorly paid, poorly trained and young teenagers with poor decision making skills. Perfect storm for negligence. I'm surprised accidents like this don't happen more often. There needs to be more proper and rigorous safety training. Again, I'm really sad this happened. These rides need better restraints. If a person can't properly fit, they shouldn't be allowed to ride.

I don’t care what anybody says that operator was wrong for that and whoever else designed the ride they know they’re wrong for that and amusement park that allowed that adjustment to happen was wrong I’m so sorry for that baby and his family

You're sending people over 400ft in the air without a SECONDARY RESTRAINT??? Sending love to the family💜

This is one of the saddest and horrific stories I've ever heard. How awful. Absolutely unforgivable

This sends chills through my body. This truly makes me sick to my stomach. My condolences go out to her and her family.

I had an experience as a teen that prevents me from ever riding something like this or anything without extensive safety restraints. It was the Canyon Blaster (A double loop roller coaster) at Adventuredome here in Las Vegas. My harness was not snapping down and the kid checking the harnesses skipped my seat. He flagged the operator to hit go on the ride meanwhile I was screaming for them not to. When I showed them that my harness was not working, they both look horrified, because they knew they were about to start the ride. My friend and I got off immediately. This is terrifying that this type of thing happens, and these companies need to be 1. Held accountable, and 2. Follow strict safety guidelines along with installing secondary restraints/backup safety measures.

My heart breaks for her. Lord wrap your arms around his family and keep their minds and hearts in as much peace as possible.

Telling him he's too big for the ride would have saved him. It starts right there; everything else was a consequence of that first bad decision.

The sad thing is , she's right , this could have been prevented. I was in the amusement industry for years and I can tell you , this is everyone's nightmare. I can't imagine the pain this family is going through. My thoughts and prayers have been with them since day one. May he rest in peace.

That poor mom and that poor kid. I can’t imagine his last moments.

There isn’t a dollar amount to heal her pain. As a mother I don’t want to even know how she feel. My heart go out to her and the rest of his family and friends!!!

Also, that lady who tried to act like she was his cousin and was all on the news crying and raising money lying to prophet off that boys death need to be sued too or suffer some type of consequences. People are really sick in the head. The enemy was definitley working hard in her cause aint no way she thought that was ok to do and to take it as far as she did. Just sick!!

The mother of the victim has every right to take action against the amusement park. The person who was operating definitely needs to be in jail cause that was total neglect no questions asked. You have a protocol for reasons like this...

Give them EVERYTHING they want and deserve. It hurt my heart seeing what happened to him. Then hearing the workers conversation after. Why would they even make a ride like that without an actual latch, and allow him on it, knowing it didn't close fully. I feel for his family.

My dad always refused to let us ride rollercoaster(aside from Disneyland) and I always thought he was crazy but now I kind of understand why. I pray for his mother, there’s nothing that compares to losing a child

My heart breaks for this mother! I can’t even imagine what she’s going through, especially since it could’ve all been avoided. RIP Big Tick

I can’t imagine her broken heart. This is something I don’t wish for anyone to go through. I have thought about her for weeks now. I praying for her and her family and she is right, it was their negligence

I’ve been following this story, every time I hear more details it breaks my heart. Praying for the Family.

I took my teenage daughter to an amusement park that’s known for its roller coasters and she wanted me to ride on all the roller coasters with her and I did until motion sickness kicked in. But what I noticed that most of the rides are in my opinion are geared for small to medium sized children and small slim framed adults. I felt very snug in the seat. So I definitely agree that he should have never been allowed on this ride. It was an accident waiting to happen. I feel so bad for this mom. I’m sure she thought her child was going to have so much fun with family and friends during spring break.

Every time I think about this it just crushes me. I can't imagine what this family is going through. It's heartbreaking.

I'm so sorry for your los 😞what a handsome boy 🫂

You gotta be extremely naive to take someone who weighs 380 pounds to an amusement park. That's not a place for someone that large. Also, his parents are extremely irresponsible, just because your child is tall doesn't mean he gets to be morbidly obese. A 6'2 child shouldn't weight more than 200 pounds. 🤦🏼‍♀️

This is so horrific… his poor parents, as a mother I can’t imagine how his own mother feels especially knowing this was preventable. My heart goes out to them, I hope they get justice!

I cry everytime I read about your son's accident.. As a mum of a 13 year old. I too am so sorry for your loss. My condolences sent may your son Tyre forever R.I.P

My soul hurted so bad when I watch the video of that baby falling. I cried so hard because he reminded me of my fifteen year old son. My heart goes out to his parents and I hope the family receives some type of justice because this could of been prevented. I still shed tears every time I come across his story. I was planning on taking my son to cedar point this summer but now I change my mind. My kids are going to have to wait until their legally grown to make their own decision on whether to ride a roller coaster or an amusement park ride. May God continue to bless the family and you all are forever in my thoughts and prayers

My son is 13, almost 14, and is a big boy. This really hit home for me. I just CANNOT IMAGINE.😢

It was negligence 100%. Also, no one 380 lbs. should be riding on the majority of any amusement park rides. They're too big. Rides are not engineered to take on someone that large.

My heart truly goes out to this family, this was 100% preventable. This mother is right, Why should it take a tragedy for companies to see the dangerous positions it exposes and places amusement park patrons in before hand before something tragic happens? Where is the accountability? My twin sister and I experienced a similar issue on the Lightning Loop ride at Great Adventures when we were 10 years old. We were seated in a car in the middle of the ride. Even though we informed the ride operator that the bar was loose and not fully locked, the ride was still set in motion. The ride stopped, in the center of the loop suspended in mid air and the bar lifted up and forward. My sister and I both were slipping from our seats. I grabbed the side bar across my sister's chest with my right hand on her right side, pulled the bar back down gripping tightly at our stomachs with my left hand, anchored my feet to both corners on the floor and pushed back against my sister and the seat with all my might to hold us in the ride to keep from falling, all in an instant. God's good Angels were definitely with us that day. Then the ride went through the remainder of its rotation trip and finally returned to the boarding dock. We informed the ride operator again an told him stop the ride. He didn't listen, so my sister and ran down the stairs back to our Dad at the front entrance ride gate and told a supervisor after we got off the ride. We walked back up the stairs to show the Supervisor where we were sitting on the ride. He stopped the ride checked it, gave my Dad extra park passes for the day but the ride was only shut down for only 1 hour. We then saw the ride operating again the same day. My sister and I were not happy nor comfortable about that at all. We felt the ride should have been shut down much longer so no one would get hurt. Never been on that ride since. We are 53 now, but the memory is still with both of us to this day. *** There needs to be more resposibility and accountability from manufacturers, park staff and park management, and park boards and share holders. People's lives are extremely valuable and massively important. This should not be ignored. Value life, over the value of the $!!!

No words can comfort the loss of a child 😢 😢! Prayers for his mother's strength

He reminds me of my own "gentle giant", and it's heartbreaking. I'm so sorry for our loss. The world's loss. The loss of this young man's potential. I am so mad this even happened. The last moments of his life were absolutely horrific, and there is no excuse good enough. 🖤

Give her whatever she wants this was 100% neglect and preventable. May God be with the family

Hearing what happened to her child made me cry - I'm a mom. Her talented, smart son went to this amusement park to have fun and never came home. This is deeply disturbing and heartbreaking to say the least. I would like to send a prayer of comfort and peace to his parents, little sister and his entire family. Life is so very precious. Peace and blessings.

One time i wasn't allowed on a ride because the harness wouldn't close properly (im over weight) i remember feeling so ashamed of having to do the walk of shame in front of everyone but I'm grateful for the operator pulling me out rather than have me go on anyways

His death could have been preventable if he could have at least tried to warn himself to go on the ride, because of his size.

I watched the video, not knowing what I'd see. As his Parents I can only imagine their pain as they watched it. Tyree had to be a nervous wreck while it was happening. I am praying for his parents, siblings, other family members and his friends. Riding on a ride should not be a death sentence. She isn't staying strong, she is moving through it. She has another baby at home to take care of, she also has to fight for Tyree. ❤🙏🏾❤🙏🏾

That poor baby boy. Only 14 yrs old. Can't even imagine the fear he felt when falling. My heart goes out to his mama. ⚘ Edited >> To his mom he was her "baby" boy, regardless of age and size. My own son is a young adult but even if he was 50 yrs old and 600 pounds, he's my baby boy and always will be. It's an affectionate term in using not soo much taken literally, that some say even to children that aren't their own.

I'm so so very sorry this happened. I'm so sorry she lost her baby to someones neglect. Lord please wrap and hold his mother, his family and his friends in your arms and give them the strength to get through this.

Why would the parents file a lawsuit against the amusement park? That's their own fault for letting him get like that because he was too heavy for the ride, anyway.

She's strong because I could not have watched the video or be interviewed!!! God please continue to strengthen her and the entire family🙏

I cannot imagine watching my son fall to his death 💔 prayers to this Mom and family 🙏

This same thing happened to my stepdad years ago on a roller coaster, around the same height and weight as this kid (more muscular). The ride only had the over the shoulder harness. It didn’t lock. When we got off the ride, he was all red and flushed, hyperventilating and sweating like crazy! We asked him what was wrong!? He said “The harness didn’t lock! I held it down with all of my strength!! I can’t believe I made it! I knew I was about to die!” Mind you, the roller coaster had 2 loops! It was unbelievable. We immediately reported it to the Amusement Park management. My stepdad didn’t want to make a big deal over it 🙄

From one mother to another, my heart goes out to you sis. 💔 God bless you and your family throughout this healing journey 🙏🏽

My family was in Orlando a week after. Our hotel was across the way and we could see the ride from our balcony. Every time they ran the ride for the investigation, I was outside, fixated, watching it rise and drop. It didn’t happen to me. I could never know this mother’s pain. But I was still so devastated and angry. I kept thinking about my baby cousin who is also fourteen and loves drop rides. How, even though I’m not their parent, I’d be gutted if I lost them. That I could not even begin to imagine the hurt Tyre’s family was going through. This could’ve 100% been prevented and I hope the park is sued for everything they’re worth. I hope the park shuts down due to people choosing not to put their lives in their hands. Because, I have a sickening feeling this won’t be the last time something like this happens there. Sad part is, it also wasn’t the first. While the ride operators could have prevented this, it’s very clear they weren’t actually given proper training. The proper training to ultimately say: I’m sorry, but you’re too big to be on this ride. That statement may come as embarrassing to some in the moment, but I know they’d understand eventually that it’s more about their safety. Much like Tyre, the operators of these rides often aren’t more than late teens/early twenties. There still isn’t enough afterthought when performing these duties, having to load and unload hundreds of people a day, to know that they cannot get in trouble for kicking someone off a ride due to safety concerns. That they cannot face reprimand. That if their boss tries anything as a response to a disgruntled visitor, they can take it to higher officials and make a case about their employer bending rules for the sake of revenue. So, what they were once concerned with in starting the job, just becomes routine. Along with better training, this also needs to be taught. That you do not have to follow shady directions, and you should not feel bad about reporting them. Rest In Peace, young man. Even in just the snippets we’ve been given about your life, I can tell you we’re headed for great things. I can tell you were a wonderful kid, and put your heart and soul into everything you set out to do.

This is a sad situation. Unfortunately, it really could have been prevented; no weight disclaimer, no secondary restraint, and tampered sensors? I bet that the attendant probably adjusted everything to fit Tyre. just sad.

I want to send her and all of his family and friends so much love. This is absolutely heartbreaking. As an engineer, this is a horrific design. We should always design with fail safes. A secondary restraint is a must.

In most parks there are two folks that check the harnesses and such before the ride is launched. This is absolutely heartbreaking, and my prayers go out to the family and friends.

Unimaginable the grief, the sorrow in the mother's experience. May GOD's love comfort her and the family through this time in their lives.

My heart goes out to this family, how very sad.

Bless her, my heart grieves for her & the family. Sadly I know the pain of loosing a child & it never fails to break my heart for other parents who have to endure that same pain. This was a needless & senseless loss, I hope justice will be served & actions taken so no other parents or families have to experience such tragic loss & unimaginable pain.

I send my condolences to the mother and father of this young man . I am so sorry for your loss . Your son had such a bright future . For this to come at a tragic end is so terrible . My prayers will be with you both and your family . Love you all . Ms. Lynn Dallas Ga .

Big Ticket. That's sweet! I'm so sorry for this loss. I can't imagine how deeply this hurts.

How terrifying, so sad. I can’t imagine how awful that was for all of the riders. Rest In Peace.

Wow. This makes my heart hurt! Prayers for his family and for justice!

My heart goes out to the family especially being a mother of two 14 year olds. I'm so sorry. This made my heart hurt

Nothing but prayers and sympathies to the family of Sampson.

Damn as a ride operator this accident hit hard condolences to his family

I cried so many tears over this. Truly painful to imagine the final moments of this young man’s life.

Absolutely heartbreaking. My heart goes out to you, I can't imagine your pain.

I just want to give this lady a hug. It seems like she has a good strong family supporting her in this hard time.

She is 100% correct. I'm so sorry for her lost. I have said it so many times, I don't care if the lights are on you go to every passenger and you push down and tug up and push down again on the harness to make sure it is locked in to place.

Oh man! So sorry for your lost. I saw the full video when it happened. My stomach dropped 😭

So much respect for this mother... fighting the good fight.

I’m so glad the operator is included in the lawsuit. This was so upsetting for a lot of us took awhile to stop constantly thinking about it so horrible. May he Rest In Peace 😢

So painful to watch, he was a happy kid, may your soul rest in peace, and condolences to the family.

He would have been alive if the staff told him he was too big.

My heart goes to her as a mom.I hope she is able to keep other people safe.

The worst loss is your child. My heart breaks for her.

There is a video of the father saying that all the other ride operators would not let him on the rides because of his size. He said the operators for this particular ride said no he couldn’t ride but then they said we’ll get him on… It was a new crew talking with the father a couple of days after the accident. Smh sending thoughts and prayers to this family.

This poor mama. So tragic. May her son Rest In Peace.

Gives me chills because I know the feeling of loosing a child it definitely could've been preventable. Even with law suits it will never replace her child & the Love she have for him. Her heart is so heavy & I understand my condolences to you sweetie & your family.

This story is so sad. My heart aches for that boy and his mom and family. Prayers going up 🙏🏾.

He'd be alive today if the ride operators knew the weight limit and if they did and didn't properly check the the guard, that's negligence, straight up. If the operators were never given proper instructions than whoever is above them should also be held accountable. I hope his family and friends are doing ok. 🙏

Wow, this is soo sad. What a horrible thing to happen to such a lovely child. I cannot even imagine what the mum and family is going through.

I don't blame the parents for getting the ride taken down because their son was too fat to ride it, anyway.

I can’t imagine the mother’s loss. So heartbreaking. The park should have not let him go on the ride without the harness secured. Such a preventable and senseless tragedy. Another thing the ride operators didn’t care and didn’t try to help. Just sick. Prayers to the family ♥️🙏😢

My heart goes with this beautiful mom, I am a mom and I can’t imagine her pain. God bless her and all the family and I hope the kid get justice.

Lord bless his poor mother 🙏 and help her though this horrific time .i my self am a mother and if this was my boy 😞🤢💔 Sorry for your loss xxxx

You’re in heaven now big man ! Fly high and god bless your family for staying so strong this is heartbreaking 💔

I’m so sorry your loss. No one deserves this, I hope you win and that ride goes away forever. 💔

Gosh, my heart just ACHES for that poor mom. I can't imagine what she's going through. Sending love and condolences to the family.

I'm so sorry for your Lost

My heart breaks every time I hear about this young man! I feel so bad for his Mom and Dad. No amount of money can bring him back, but I hope they win their lawsuit. This was 100% negligence!!

This mom is very strong and courageous and I hope she achieves her mission! My heart goes out to her for the loss of her son and that this ride never is allowed to have another passenger

If there was a ride that didn’t have a seat belt forget it I won’t even get on. Prayers for his family

This hurts my soul every time I hear this. My son is a big boy too I'll be asking questions and let him know some things you can't do like others. My heart goes out to his family

My heart goes out to this young man and his family. No one deserves to experience such a horrific event. 💕

Sending love to the mom I can’t imagine the pain she’s feeling right now so sad!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

My heart goes out to the family of this young man who lost his life. I'm so sorry for their loss 😞

So very sorry for your loss ma'am Sending our deepest condolences to you and your family. There'a no greater pain in life then losing a child!

It’s heartbreaking, however I am sure he didn’t feel comfortable on the ride cause in that picture you can clearly see it doesn’t fit.

My heart is broken for the Dodd Sampson family. My heart is broken for Tyre. This young man had such a beautiful, bright future ahead of him, and was working so hard to make sure his dreams came true. This was not an accident, this was complete lack of value for human life! No amount of money will bring peace to this family. No amount of money will bring Tyre back. But, the Park must pay for their disgusting negligence! May God help this family and somehow allow them to feel a sense of healing. Tyre, you will never be forgotten beautiful angel. 🙏🏻😔

It blows my mind that every single amusement park ride that is capable of injuring or killing someone, doesn't have a standard SEATBELT. It's ridiculous. Machines go wrong all of the time. Sometimes there's nothing more helpful than old school physical restraints. God Bless that Mother & her family. 🙏

Using your sons death to get money typical 😂😂

Bless her heart. We saw that video and I can't imagine! His thoughts or her feelings now. 🙏🏾💞