Maintenance technician Austin Campbell Alexander has filed a whistleblower lawsuit claiming that safety concerns he raised regarding the Orlando Freefall ride at Icon Park were ignored before a tragic incident that led to the death of 14-year-old Tire Sampson. Alexander reported that ride sensors were modified to accommodate individuals exceeding safety limits, that an overheated cylinder compromised seat security, and that there were cracks in the ride’s metal structure. Despite bringing these issues to his manager and the ride’s owner, he alleges no action was taken. Following Sampson’s death due to a harness failure during the ride, Campbell Alexander experienced mental health issues and was asked to complete a maintenance log falsely stating that previous inspections had been conducted. He subsequently took leave and was later fired, which his lawyers argue was retaliation for his safety warnings. In the lawsuit, he seeks over $50,000 in damages. Sampson’s family previously secured a $310 million verdict against the ride’s manufacturer.
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