The idea for Verrckt came from 63-year-old Jeff Henry, who co-owned the Schlitterbahn parks with his older brother, Gary, and younger sister, Jana, and acted as the companys chief visionary, a conjurer of splashy joyrides. And that never worried the people around him. Caleb Schwab, son of Kansas state representative Scott Schwab, was visiting the park with his father, his mother, and his three brothers, as Kansas elected officials and their families were offered free admission that fateful Sunday. Republican lawmaker Scott Schwab's son Caleb died on the Verruckt attraction, which means "insane" in German, and has been certified as the world's tallest water slide by Guinness World Records. A humid breeze presses down on the dead summer grass. According to Wikipedia, Caleb Schwab's cause of death was internal decapitation. He devised a complicated artificial river system that moved tubers from one major slide to the next so they would rarely need to leave the water to stand in line. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. By 2017, attorneys for Schlitterbahn were meeting with the Schwab familys attorneys. It was as horrible a moment as you could imagine, a person who was there told me. Read more about other injuries at Schlitterbahn in Kansas here. After Calebs death, advocates urged officials to step in to change how the amusement park industry is run. A light breeze rattled the leaves. I get fired up to come to work and take care of those customers.. Plus, Jeff always surrounded himself with other knowledgeable people who were able to do the numbers work that he wasnt inclined to do.. Schwab was elected Kansas secretary of state in November. Some new details in the Caleb Schwab death are emerging with a witness giving her account of how the 10-year-old boy was killed on a water slide at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas on Sunday. KANSAS CITY, Kan. As more information comes out about what happened to cause 10-year-old Caleb Schwab's tragic death, the concern over amusement park safety grows. John Schooley, who designed the killer slide, and fellow co-owner Jeff Henry originally faced charges of involuntary manslaughter and a number of others over Caleb's death, but the charges were dropped in 2019 owing to "improper evidence and testimony". You read it quietly and are reminded again that Caleb Schwab should still be here. So he invented what he described as a water brake, a dip at the end of the slide that slowed the guests down. That is, until August 7, 2016, when the raft that 10-year-old Caleb Schwab was riding went airborne and hit a metal pole supporting a safety net, resulting in his decapitation and instant. Police have revealed that 10-year-old Caleb Schwab - who was involved in a fatal accident at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City on Sunday - died of a "neck injury," PEOPLE confirms.. Families poured through the gates. He was found dead at the . . After his death, it was announced . And, of course, they loved Jeffs increasingly daring rides. Shocked theme park visitors were left traumatised after watching Caleb die. alized the time had come to do it, he told me later. For instance, eleven Schlitterbahn customers said they had been injured on Verrckt between August 31, 2014, and August 5, 2016 (two days before Calebs death). We walked past the home where Bob, Billye, and the Henry kids lived five decades ago (its now rented out to Schlitterbahn visitors). In 1977, when he was 22 years old, he took a trip with a buddy to Orlando, Florida, where he visited two newly opened water parks: Wet n Wild and Disneys River Country. Still, neither Jeff nor his siblings offered any public explanation for what had happened. 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Turn them in during, However, the particular ride that killed a 10-year old boy Sunday remains closed, RELATED:Expert wants feds to regulate rides after 2 terrifying incidents, The Grinch is getting a sequel, plus other books, Everything you need to know about the Disney California, 13 stylish black tights to wear this winter, Bryant family gets $28.85M settlement over crash, Former clients of attorney speak about alleged wrongdoing, Rapper Kodak Black ordered into drug rehab by Florida, Restaurant worker sprayed hot grease on 2 workers:, FL lawmaker wants to get rid of the Democratic Party, Idaho victims sister names baby Theodora MaddieKay, Trustees eliminate diversity office at New College, Plant City High School band to fundraise during FL, Florida moves to expand Dont Say Gay law, Florida man buys $50 lottery game, wins $1M. It was like, No, I dont want to do it.. Since the ride was torn down, former employees have alleged that both ride inspections and staff training were inadequate. "A lot of our math was based on rollercoasters at first, and that didn't translate to a water slide like this. Schlitterbahn opened in 1979, drawing approximately five thousand visitors in its first season (the park is open full-time only from Memorial Day until Labor Day). He was smart, and he joined the debate team, but he didnt turn in his homework and refused to take tests, telling his teachers that tests were a waste of time. Christian Wallace writes about West Texas, oil and gas, music, cowboys, history, and history-making Texans. Last year a bank in Corpus Christi that held roughly $32 million in debt on that citys Schlitterbahn took ownership of the park, after plans for an attached resort quintupled in size and the projects costs ballooned, eventually forcing the property into foreclosure. At the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, you will find a palate-dazzling smorgasbord of cuisines and cocktails in which to indulge. However, after a redesign and more tests, Henry said the ride, although still dangerous, was safe: its a safe dangerous now.. That responsibility lies entirely with the states. The park issued a statement Monday saying it was deeply and intensely saddened for the Schwab family and all who were impacted by the tragic accident. The water park closed following the incident and will remain shuttered until Wednesday at the earliest, although the slide will not reopen. Parents relive horror after son, 10, was decapitated on water slide, Caleb Schwab, 10, was decapitated on a water slide in Kansas five years ago, This 168-foot tall slide at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark was billed as the world's tallest, The view from the top of the terrifying ride, Gatecrashers storm inflatable water park by jumping in for free during heatwave, Boy, 8, dies after drowning in swimming pool in front of family and sunbathers. Courtesy of Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts. If the completed ride still didnt meet his expectations, hed tear it down and start over. The Kanas . Our boat one hundred percent went off the tracks, one woman said. . But with cameras still rolling, more sandbag-laden rafts continued to fly into the air. Miles answered, I have not, sir, according to the detective. That day, the Travel Channels cameras focused on Jeff and Schooley as they stood on an elevated platform near Verrckts second hill. The Henrys moved into a small house on the property, which they renamed the Landa Resort. Ten-year-old Caleb Schwab was decapitated while riding what has been dubbed the worlds tallest water slide at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, police said. Caleb Schwab, 10, Decapitated in Water Slide Accident, Police Confirm After a 10-Year-Old's Waterslide Decapitation, Why Were the Ride Designers Charged with Murder? In October 2012, Jeff was at an amusement park industry trade show with his chief collaborator, John Schooley, a soft-spoken, silver-haired former yacht builder who had constructed slides at water parks in Asia before coming to New Braunfels to work for Jeff in 1998. He also kept working for his father. Some experts believe that his death was because of the uneven distribution of weight. Three riders inside a rubber raft would plummet down a nearly vertical seventeen-story drop at speeds reaching up to 68 miles per hour. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. Caleb, his parents and 3 brothers attended "elected officials day" at the water park on Sunday. "His friend was screaming for help and I think that's when staff members and medics and stuff started running.". I want to be the first at the bar to buy a drink, and I want to be the first to meet a pretty girl, and I want to be the first at everything. The Schwab family may also file a personal injury claim on behalf of Caleb. Bob loved the idea of a water park. Jeff was wearing cowboy boots. At the top of the platform, they were weighed again and placed in a raft. A MOM had to be held back from the horror of her son, 10, being decapitated on a water slide at Schlitterbahn Water Park. What are those large pyramids next to the Skyway? Aug. 18 2016, Updated 8:24 a.m. The family had strong ties in the city, including at the LifeMission Church on South Lone . For Schlitterbahns second season, Jeff added a 50,000-square-foot pool and an inner tube ride that he named the Hillside Tube Chute. 82 thespeedofpain 2 yr. ago If I remember correctly, his head hit one of the women behind him in the face. Police have revealed that 10-year-old Caleb Schwab - who was involved in a fatal accident at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City on Sunday - died of a "neck injury," PEOPLE confirms.. The case is being investigated as a civil rather than criminal matter, yet details are vague and authorities have disclosed little information about what caused the tragic accident. What could be better? Her friend Jess Sanford added: "I only saw Caleb slide down the last half of the slide, and then I saw the blood. Caleb was killed when his raft became airborne over the slide's 50-foot hump and collided with a metal bar supporting the safety net. of what decapitated the poor child, the blood pooling at the bottom and where his brother stood. 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