Tyler Austin Miles, 28, the former operations director for a water park in Kansas where a 10-year-old boy died on a ride was charged with involuntary manslaughter related to his 2016 death on Friday
The former operations director for a water park in Kansas where a 10-year-old boy died on a ride was charged with a crime related to his death on Friday.
Tyler Austin Miles, 28, turned himself in on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office told DailyMail.com.
The charges stems from the August 2016 death of Caleb Schwab, who was decapitated while riding the Verrückt water slide at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City.
‘Verrückt’ translates from German to English as ‘crazy’ or ‘insane.’
The company, which Miles left in September for a ‘great opportunity,’ said it was disappointed in the charge and that its internal investigation found no individual at fault in the tragedy, according to the Kansas City Star.
Miles was booked into the Wayne County jail on Friday, with bond set at $50,000.
The charge stems from the 2016 death of Caleb Schwab, who was decapitated while riding the Verrückt water slide at Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City
Caleb is seen here with his father, Kansas state Representative Scott Schwab
Caleb’s father, Kansas state Representative Scott Schwab, had taken his family of six to the water park that day thanks to a promotion that allowed elected officials and their families to enter, free of admission charges.
They ended up paying the ultimate price, when Caleb lost his life after having his head cut off by what was supposed to be part of a safety measure on the water slide touted as the world’s largest, at 17-stories tall and boasting a 168-foot steep descent.
Advertisements from before the attraction officially opened in 2014 showed rafts flying through the air out of the top of the chute during the building and testing phases for the ride.
The raft Caleb rode on that fateful day went airborne at some point during the ride, and Caleb’s body struck a metal pole that was in place to support a netting system installed to keep riders from flying off the slide.
KCK Police described his death as resulting from a ‘fatal neck injury.’
Scott Schwab, had taken his family of six to the water park that day thanks to a promotion that allowed elected officials and their families to enter, free of admission charges
Schlitterbahn, which operates across the US as a water park developer based in New Braunfels, Texas, told The Star the company was disappointed that ‘any individual was being personally charged for the terrible accident on Verrückt.’
‘Our review of the facts and circumstances of the accident has never shown any evidence of criminal conduct on the part of anyone,’ Winter Prosapio, a spokeswoman for Schlitterbahn, wrote in an email.
Prosapio added, specifically of Miles, that the company ‘stand[s] by him and [we] are shocked by these allegations.’
‘Throughout his employment with us, our operations director, Tyler, demonstrated the highest dedication to safety, from the training of our lifeguards and ride operators, to ensuring all rides have operated in accordance with our strict protocols,’ he added.
‘He was conscientious and committed to providing visitors to the water park a safe and enjoyable experience. Tyler left us in September to accept great opportunity; we were sorry to see him go and wished him well.’
The raft Caleb rode on that fateful day went airborne at some point during the ride, and Caleb’s body struck a metal pole that was in place to support a netting system installed to keep riders from flying off the slide
Two women, Hannah Barnes and Matraca Baetz, who rode behind Caleb on that ride were also seriously injured, but survived
The company maintained it was ‘shocked by any allegations of impropriety or negligence on the part of anyone associated with Verrückt,’ despite findings from an independent investigation conducted by The Star that the design of the ride had serious flaws and the state of Kansas was severely lacking in amusement ride regulation.
Governor Sam Brownback signed a law into effect in April 2017, requiring new oversight meant to ensure safety of these types of rides, but implementation has been stalled due to concerns about the ability of fair and carnival operators to comply.
Two women, Hannah Barnes and Matraca Baetz, who rode behind Caleb on that ride were also seriously injured, but survived. They reportedly settled lawsuits with the water park for undisclosed sums.
Caleb was a baseball enthusiast who brought his family a great deal of joy
Caleb’s family settled a multiple defendant lawsuit with Schlitterbahn, an affiliated general contractor called Henry & Sons Construction, the raft manufacturer Zebec USA and a consultant named John Hunsucker for $19.7 million
Caleb’s family also settled a multiple defendant lawsuit with Schlitterbahn, an affiliated general contractor called Henry & Sons Construction, the raft manufacturer Zebec USA and a consultant named John Hunsucker for $19.7 million.
Schlitterbahn closed its Kansas City, Kansas location for two days after Caleb’s death, and never re-opened the Verrückt water slide.
The slide, however, still remains standing due to a court order to facilitate investigation.
The park opened in 2017, and is scheduled to reopen for the 2018 season on May 25.
Neither the Schwab family nor Miles could immediately be reached for comment.
Caleb died on August 7, 2016. He was survived by his father, mother, and three brothers.
Caleb died on August 7, 2016; He was survived by his father, mother, and three brothers