Boy, 12, dies on Verrückt slide at Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City

[TexasTowelie]

A 12-year-old boy died Sunday afternoon on the tallest water slide in the world, the Verrückt, at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kan.

A park spokeswoman confirmed the death at a news conference Sunday afternoon. Schlitterbahn shut down after the accident and will remain closed Monday. The slide will be closed pending a full investigation.

“We are saddened to share that a young boy died on Verrückt this afternoon,” said Winter Prosapio, corporate director of communications for Schlitterbahn. “Given that safety is our first priority we have closed our Kansas City park and have closed the ride pending a full investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.”

Prosapio could not say whether the boy fell from the 17-story ride and she could not even say what time Sunday afternoon the incident occurred.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article94254507.html

[citood]

1. This slide was delayed in opening

Because they were having problems with 'dummies' flying off of it. They made a lot of modifications...but I was always skeptical, and have no desire to ride it.

[Warpy]

2. Looks like they have some pretty strict safety regulations

that were waived to get a politician's 10 year old son on a slide with a minimum age requirement of 14.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

4. I wonder if he came out of the shoulder harness at...

... the bump after the initial fall? Or perhaps he simply fell off the tower? Time will tell.

That's too bad.

[Warpy]

6. Right, the story is incomplete

and "too small for the shoulder harness" sounds like a pretty good bet.

This is sad.

[xmas74]

5. Others on my Facebook have posted

That there was no age requirement, only a height and weight. One person who posted was there a week ago and it was an argument between her and her twelve year old. Park official at scene said no age limits but a height and overall weight for the raft.

She refused, btw, and said he needed to wait until he was older. She said she didn't trust it up close.

[xmas74]

3. Not 12.

He was only 10. His name was Caleb Schwab. He's Scott Schwab's son-a GOP state rep from Olathe. And unfortunately witness reports state there was blood everywhere and the possibility of a decapitation.

Cross post this in GD. I'd like to see reactions from this. I remember the ride was constantly delayed before the grand opening and one of the reasons was because the test dummies were airborne.

[TexasTowelie]

7. Done.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028081929

[kestrel91316]

8. So his (R) dad probably hated onerous gubmint regulations

on private businesses.

Well, I'll just refrain from saying anything more.

[xmas74]

9. It's really not the

time. A boy is gone. The ride has had problems in the past. A family is in mourning and witnesses with young families are in shock.

[kestrel91316]

10. That's why I didn't say any more than I did.

But the irony of his father being a RWNJ and probably a teabagger hasn't escaped me.