Deadly ICON Park accident: Investigation into Free Fall reveals ride lacks seatbelts, has unique safety measures

THE ORLANDO FREE FALL IS A BRAND-NEW RIDE, HAVING JUST OPENED MONTHS AGO. IT’S THE WORLD’S SECOND TALLEST DROP TOWER, STANDING 430 FEET HIGH. IT CAN FIT UP TO 30 PEOPLE AND ROTATES AS IT RISES TO THE TOP. LUANA: THAT’S RIGHT BUT NOT ALL , DROP RIDES ARE THE SAME. WESH 2’S INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER GREG FOX HAS BEEN LOOKING AT DIFFERENCES THAT COULD PLAY A ROLE IN DETERMINING WHAT HAPPENED. GREG, THERE ARE LOTS OF THESE DROP RIDES IN FLORIDA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. REPORTER: THERE IS PROBABLY -- >> THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN WRITERS TAKE A PLUNGE ON FREEFALL. WHILE A STATE RIDE SAFETY INSPECTOR TRIES TO FIGURE OUT HOW A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY TYRE SAMPSON FELL FROM SEAT NUMBER 31. WESH 2 INVESTIGATES UNCOVERED KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THIS AND SIMILAR DROP RIDES. >> NO SEAT BELT. REPORTER: THAT’S RIGHT, ON FREE FALL, WHICH IS OWNED BY SLINGSHOT GROUP, THERE’S NO BELT CONNECTING THE HORN ON THE SEAT TO THE SHOULDER RESTRAINT. BY CONTRAST, DR. DOOM’S FEARFALL AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO DOES HAVE BELTS, AS YOU SEE INHE TSE PHOTOS. >> WE ARE GOING TO HOLD IT LIKE THIS AND WE HOPE WE HOLD. AT FREE FALL’S PEAK, RIDERS ARE TILTED FORWARD, PUTTING ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON THE SAFETY HARNESS AS IT DROPS. AT BUSCH GARDENS, WESH 2’S JASON GUY RODE FALCON’S FURY, WHERE IT TILTS AT THE TOP BUT TILTS BACK , BEFORE THE DROP. BUT ONE EXPERT I SPOKE WITH SAID RIDE DESIGN MAY NOT HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN THIS ACCIDENT. >> THEY TEND TO BE OPERATOR ERROR. AS THE ROOT CAUSE. REPORTER: NATHAN MACDONALD IS A RIDE SAFETY EXPERT WITH ALPINE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN. HE SAYS MOST MODERN RIDES HAVE ONE OR TWO SAFETY BACKUPTOS PREVENT MISHAPS. BUT THE ONE CONSISTENT THEME IN MOST ACCIDENTS HE’S INVESTIGATED, EMPLOYEES JUST WEREN’T TRAINED TO ENSURE FESA MEASURES WERE IN PLACE. >> THAT’S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY TRAINING AND YOU KNOW FOLLOWGIN THE CORRECT PROCEDURES IN TERMS OF OPERATING THE RIDE SAFELY IS ABSOTELULY CRITICAL. THERE’S ONLY SO MUCH THAT A DESIGNER CAN DO. AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU REALLY HAVE TO RELY ON THE OPERATOR, OPERATING THE RIDE, PROPERLY. REPORTER: JUST LAST SEPTEMBER, TWO WORKERS AT GLENWOOD CAVERNS’ MINE DROP IN DENVER, WERE ALGELED TO HAVE FORGOTTETON BUCKLE SIX-YEAR-OLD WONGEL ESTIFANOS, WHO FELL FROM THE SEAT TO HER DEATH. ON THE FREE FALL DEATH, ORANGE COUNTY MAY JORERRY DEMINGS TELLS US, I OFFER MY DEEP CONSOLE AND SAYS -- DEEP CONDOLENCES FOR THE FAMILY OF THE 14-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO DIED FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC INCIDENT AT ICONARK. P I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE INCIDENT AND WHAT WILL BE DONE TO PREVENT IT FROM EVER HAPPENING AGN.AI AS I POINTED OUT IN THAT REPORT, DOCTOR DOOM’S ARFE FALL ACROSS 4I- AT UNIVERSAL IS DESIGNED DIFFERENTLY THAN FREEFALL. STJU BECAUSE THIS INCIDENT THAT PPHAENED LAST NIGHT, UNIVERSAL AN ABUNDANCEF O CAUTION DECIDED TO DO A SAFETYEST T IN ADDITION TO ITS USUAL SETYAF CHECKS BEFORE PUTTING IT INTO ACTION EARLIER TODAY. LIVE IN ORLANDO GREG FOX WESH 2 NEWS. STEWART: WE ARE STAYING ON TOP OF THIS DEVELOPING STORY AT ICON PA.RK WE HAVE CREWS ON THE GROUND AND ARE CONTINUING TO LEARN MORE. STAY WITH US ON AIR AND ONLI