Caleb Thomas Schwab, the son of a state lawmaker, died on Sunday while riding on the Verruckt, a towering water slide at the Schlitterbahn water park that sends riders plunging down from a height of about 17 storeys, at up to 80kmh.
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One eyewitness, Leslie Castaneda, said she saw blood and Caleb’s bathing suit in the pool at the end of the ride, reports the The Kansas City Star. The other riders-two women unrelated to the Schwabs-were treated for minor facial injuries.
The 44-year-old Kansas state lawmaker took his wife and their four boys to the Schlitterbahn waterpark in Kansas City, which declared an “Elected Officials’ Day” on Sunday and gave free admission and lunch to the lawmakers and their families. A limited portion of our Kansas City park will open for guests at noon on Wednesday. It’s unclear how long the water slide will remain closed.
A promotional video about building the slide includes footage of two men riding a raft down a half-size test model and going slightly airborne as it crests the top of the first big hill.
Scott Schwab is a Republican from Olathe.
“Every death is technically a criminal matter until we clear it or categorized it as an accident”, Kansas City police spokesman Cameron Morgan said.
“We honestly don’t know what’s happened”, says Winter Prosapio, corporate director of communications for Schlitterbahn Water Park, home of The Verrückt.
Pettey said in a telephone interview she left the park before the incident that led to the boy’s death.
A Kansas legislator says he wants to examine the state’s relatively light oversight of amusement park rides like the waterslide on which a 10-year-old boy was killed. Schwab was the son of Rep. Scott Schwab in the Kansas House of Representatives.
Pastor Clint Sprague, the family spokesperson for the Schwab family said they’re heartbroken. There are no federal inspection laws for waterparks in the USA, and inspections are handled on a state-by-state basis.
Park officials further noted that the Kansas Police Department is investigating Caleb’s death and all questions regarding the investigation should be directed to them. A memorial service is planned for Friday afternoon.
A Gofundme campaign created on Sunday to raise $15,000 to help with Caleb’s funeral expenses has raised double the target as of Tuesday morning.
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Caleb was one of three passengers riding in a raft on the Verruckt waterslide at Schlitterbahn Waterpark when the accident occurred.
