Water Park Operator Indicted After Boy Is Decapitated On Wild Ride
Caleb Schwab, 10, was decapitated while riding a dangerous water slide at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City in 2016. Now, a water park operator and an executive have been indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the tragic death.
According to an indictment obtained by PEOPLE, The Verrückt was built in a "spur of the moment bid" to impress Travel Channel show producers in 2012. It was named the world's tallest water slide by Guinness World Records in 2014, and was known to hit speeds of up to 70 mph.
The prosecution alleges that former director of operations Tyler Austin Miles and another park exec were aware of the ride's dangers, and even tried to cover up various incidents after its launch.
In one instance, a 15-year-old girl was temporarily blinded after the raft went airborne and caused her to hit her head on the headrest, RadarOnline.com has learned.
Miles' lawyers claimed the man was not responsible for Schwab's death, though investigators discovered his ride "violated nearly all aspects of the long-standing industry safety standards" and "suffered from a long list of dangerous design flaws."
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"Experts in the field of amusement ride design and safety examined Verrückt and found physical evidence which indicated that other rafts had gone airborne and collided with the overhead hoops and netting before the fatality," according to the indictment.
Miles was charged with two counts of interference with law enforcement, after officials decided he could have prevented Caleb Schwab's tragic death. The park was also charged with interfering with the law.
Miles pleaded not guilty to all counts this Friday, while the deceased boy's family reached a $20 million settlement with Schlitterbahn and affiliated companies, according to the Associated Press.
Tyler Austin Miles is expected to appear in court on September 10.
Stay with RadarOnline.com for updates.
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