ORLANDO, Fla. — Tyre Sampon’s father spoke in Orlando on Monday.
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It has been nearly three months since 14-year-old Sampson fell from the free-fall ride at ICON Park.
Sampson’s father, Yarnell Sampson, said he wants there to be no possibility of this ride ever reopening.
He said that every time he sees the ride, it’s a painful reminder of his son’s tragic death.
After the release of the medical examiner’s autopsy results, Yarnell Sampson is demanding a permanent memorial to honor his son.
Yarnell Sampson visited ICON Park to find some peace on his first Father’s Day without his son.
The memorial for Tyre Sampson was taken down. Yarnell Sampson wrote his son’s name in chalk around the ride.
WATCH: Protest erupts outside ICON Park after teen’s memorial cleaned
“He was 14 years old. A scholar. He deserves to be respected more than what they’re giving him,” Yarnell Sampson said.
An autopsy revealed that Tyre Sampson was nearly 100 pounds over the ride’s weight limit. He died from blunt force trauma.
A state investigation shows Tyre Sampson’s seat was modified to accommodate larger passengers.
State Rep. Geraldine Thompson said the SlingShot Group is trying to get another permit for a ride.
WATCH: Tyre Sampson’s autopsy shows he was nearly 100 pounds over drop ride’s maximum weight limit
A spokesperson for the SlingShot Group said in a statement, “Our company is not planning to open a new ride at ICON Park, however, we do hope to reopen the Slingshot ride, once we have all the necessary approvals from the Department of Agriculture.”
Yarnell Sampson said he is working to get 25,000 signatures on a petition to get the ride taken down.
Thompson said she will file the “Tyre Sampson bill” on the first day of the next legislative session. She said it will take into account the safety records of any company that wants to operate a ride like the Orlando FreeFall across the state.
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