Teen Dies In Fall From New Tower Ride At Orlando Amusement Park

ORLANDO, FL — A 14-year-old Missouri boy died after falling from a tower ride that opened late last year at an amusement park in Orlando, authorities said Friday.

The teen, identified as Tyree Samson, fell from the FreeFall ride at ICON Park on Thursday night, authorities said. The ride hurtles about 30 riders at a time more than 400 feet into the air.

Deputies were called to the park around 11 p.m. Thursday. The teen died of his injuries at a hospital.

The teen was visiting Florida with another family from his home in Missouri.

Sheriff John Mina of the Orange County Sheriff's Office offered his deepest condolences for the teen's family at a news conference Friday. The sheriff's office, tasked with determining whether his death was an accident, said early indications are that the fall was a "terrible tragedy."

"It does appear to be just a tragic situation," he said.

Mina added: "Our role in this situation is to determine whether or not this is an accident or an intentional act. And this does appear to be a terrible tragedy."

Investigators flagged a video circulating on social media that appeared to show riders unsecured. Mina said the agriculture department will review the footage in to determine whether the ride is unsafe. A large device secures riders on the Free Fall attraction.

Slingshot Group, which operates the ride, told Spectrum News 13 the boy was secured when he fell.

“Yes (he was secured in the seat). That’s what we know at this time. So again, we operate the ride with all the safety precautions in mind and everything is in place and this is why we’re doing an investigation,” John Stine, sales and marketing director for the company, told the TV station.

Investigators are talking to witnesses and reviewing videos.

"Our prayers and our thoughts are with the family," Mina said. "We can't imagine what they're going through."

Stine said their "hearts are broken" for the teen's family.

"We’re going to do everything we can to work with the investigative authorities to get to the matter of this," he said.

The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services planned to send inspectors to the ride Friday, spokeswoman Caroline Stonecipher told CNN.