Caleb Schwab was on the 168-foot-tall waterslide at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City when he was fatally injured Sunday.
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Kansas City, Kansas, police say a 10-year-old boy who was killed while riding the world’s tallest water slide died of a neck injury.
Without specifically mentioning water slides, Kansas statutes describe an “amusement ride” as “any mechanical or electrical device that carries or conveys passengers along, around or over a fixed or restricted route or course or within a defined area for the objective of giving its passengers amusement, pleasure, thrills or excitement”.
Kansas City Police Chief Terry Zeigler said the death was being treated as an accident.
“All of the regulations are really done at the state and local level with respect to amusement parks and waterparks”.
He says he saw the family Sunday morning at church before they left for Schlitterbahn.
The Kansas park where a state lawmaker’s 10-year-old son died on what’s billed as the world’s largest waterslide says the park is tentatively planning to reopen on Wednesday.
About 1,300 water parks operated in North America a year ago, up about 30 percent from a decade ago, according to the trade group World Waterpark Association.
Authorities say the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death are still being investigated.
The slide stands more than 168 feet tall, higher than Niagara Falls, with a 264 stair climb leading to the top.
Caleb’s parents – Republican state Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife, Michele – have requested privacy as the family grieves, saying in a statement Sunday that “since the day he was born, (Caleb) brought abundant joy to our family and all those he came in contact with”.
Each rider was required to be at least 54 inches tall.
The Kansas City, Kansas Police and Fire Departments responded to the scene.
Schlitterbahn Water Park heavily promotes Verrückt – German for “insane” – a slide with a 170-foot drop that holds the GuinnessWorld Records for water slide height. “There are no federal standards and so it really is up to the park operators, the manufacturers of the rides and the states to make sure this is a safe environment”, said Deborah Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council.
Castaneda added that he had ridden Verruckt earlier in the day with his cousin’s 14-year-old daughter.
The ride opened in July 2014.
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At the time of its opening, USA TODAY said the ride would “thrill or terrify” riders, who drop the equivalent of two football fields in 18 seconds.
