A child has died during a tragic accident at a Kansas City waterpark over the weekend. The 12-year-old boy and son of the Kansas State Representative died while riding a waterslide, the Schlitterbahn water park’s main attraction. The 168-foot water slide called the Verruckt is known as the world’s tallest water slide. According to the Kansas state police, the accident is under investigation and the park will remain closed during this time. While the boy’s name has not been released, the Kansas State Representative acknowledged their grief at the loss of their son and has asked for privacy.
The park’s website describes the jaw-dropping 168-foot and 7-inch slide. The slide requires strapping in two to three riders into a raft and launching them down the slide, over 17 stories high. According to their website, the maximum weight is between 400 and 500 pounds and riders must be at least 54-inches-tall. The slide is advertised as higher than Niagara Falls and passengers plummet down at 50-miles-per-hour. Schlitterbahn’s Verrückt is German for “insane” and is five inches taller than any other slide in the world.
There are thousands of amusement and waterpark injuries every year in the United States. Many times, these preventable injuries are caused by negligence, insufficient supervision, equipment malfunctions, and design flaws. If you have been injured or tragically lost a loved one at an amusement park or waterpark, please contact St. Louis’ best premises liability attorney at Meyerkord & Kurth, LLC, today. We will not rest until you find the restitution you deserve. Contact Meyerkord & Kurth, LLC, for a free premises liability case evaluation.