Boy Killed on Kansas Water Slide

[Anonymous]

all I can hope is it was so quick the boy felt nothing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The money doesn't matter. I lost my youngest son in a fatal accident where damages were awarded to us. That money is blood money and Ive never spent a dime (other than paying our lawyer). I throw away the statement every month before even opening the envelope. Its an amount that could significantly change our lifestyle and I have no interest in a penny of it. What I want is my child. What these parents want isn't money. It annoys me that pages upon pages keep bringing up how much money they should be able to get, will be able to get, etc etc. I would spend the rest of my life working min wage jobs in the worst conditions imaginable if it meant all my children were living.

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The money doesn't matter. I lost my youngest son in a fatal accident where damages were awarded to us. That money is blood money and Ive never spent a dime (other than paying our lawyer). I throw away the statement every month before even opening the envelope. Its an amount that could significantly change our lifestyle and I have no interest in a penny of it. What I want is my child. What these parents want isn't money. It annoys me that pages upon pages keep bringing up how much money they should be able to get, will be able to get, etc etc. I would spend the rest of my life working min wage jobs in the worst conditions imaginable if it meant all my children were living.

I am so very sorry for your loss, PP.

[Anonymous]

That slide just looks terrifying and insane. What a tragic and unnecessary death. I feel horrible for his parents, and his poor brother as well.

[Anonymous]

I've been haunted by this story since I heard about it. Much like you all, I have 3 boys and they enjoy thrill rides and water parks. Unfortunately, I do believe the PP has the statute correct when reading that ECONOMIC damages can reach up to 1M; however, NONECONMIC damages are capped at $350. A 10 year old child doesn't result in economic damages, as sad as that sounds. As much as these poor people don't want or care about the money, they won't be able to obliterate the Schlitterbahn corp. at $300k; which, I would think, would be part of their plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will say this event has seriously opened my eyes to the presumption of safety we have in amusement parks vis a bus rides. If I go to Hersheypark and the coaster is running, I assume that means it was tested for safety, approved by a governing board, and frequently inspected and maintained to be up to safety regulations. To realize that depending on the state that is not at all a given is quite sobering.

+1

+2

Seeing a commercial for Lego Friends Amusement Park just makes me thinks of this kid.

A PP mentioned that the bars were bent and there was blood on the netting, but when I keep thinking how this could happen, I think his strap failed, he was flung forward, and the raft went over him. Splashing blood, bending the bars and causing additional injuries if his neck wasn't already snapped.

I want to feel like it would be okay for my kid to ride a water slide again. I know mostly it is, but I can't imagine the guilt his parents are feeling. Their kid's death wasn't their fault, but I'm sure they blame themselves irrational as it is.

NP here. Not irrational. If you are a Republican legislator and you vote for deregulation, this is a foreseeable, direct consequence. No one should have to die, but perhaps this Republican will grow a conscience because of it. Save your righteous indignation for the folks that allow corporations to flout safety in the name of profits.

And if you don't think cars, trains and airplanes are safer because of regulation--why aren't you driving a vintage Pinto or Corvair?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:all I can hope is it was so quick the boy felt nothing

Yes. And his poor, poor brother to have to watch this. I feel horrible for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The money doesn't matter. I lost my youngest son in a fatal accident where damages were awarded to us. That money is blood money and Ive never spent a dime (other than paying our lawyer). I throw away the statement every month before even opening the envelope. Its an amount that could significantly change our lifestyle and I have no interest in a penny of it. What I want is my child. What these parents want isn't money. It annoys me that pages upon pages keep bringing up how much money they should be able to get, will be able to get, etc etc. I would spend the rest of my life working min wage jobs in the worst conditions imaginable if it meant all my children were living.

I'm sorry, PP. I totally understand this. Discussing the money for me is more like "how can the people responsible for this suffer for their irresponsibility" than assuming the parents want a payout. I know they don't. I'm very sorry for your loss.

Once you recover you can use the money for some good in the world, PP. please try to find something and some purpose.
Perhaps enhancing the lives of children. Perhaps some other children who are in need of attention might bring you some joy.
Wouldn't it bother you if there are children whose are still here but who are suffering? Maybe you could use some of your $$ to help.

Eff you. PP doesn't have the flu. You don't 'recover' from having your child die in an accident. Your grief comes and goes, but it's permanent. Who are you to tell the PP what to do with the money? It's not this poster's job to fix the world because she endured a horrific tragedy. Get off your high horse and help some people yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been haunted by this story since I heard about it. Much like you all, I have 3 boys and they enjoy thrill rides and water parks. Unfortunately, I do believe the PP has the statute correct when reading that ECONOMIC damages can reach up to 1M; however, NONECONMIC damages are capped at $350. A 10 year old child doesn't result in economic damages, as sad as that sounds. As much as these poor people don't want or care about the money, they won't be able to obliterate the Schlitterbahn corp. at $300k; which, I would think, would be part of their plan.

It appears that punitives can go up to $5 million. That wouldn't do it either. I thought that Disney faced an existential crisis with legal exposure resulting from that horrific alligator attack. It appears, though, that the parents elected not to sue. It's their choice, obviously. Both situations cry out for punishment and governments HAVE to step in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will say this event has seriously opened my eyes to the presumption of safety we have in amusement parks vis a bus rides. If I go to Hersheypark and the coaster is running, I assume that means it was tested for safety, approved by a governing board, and frequently inspected and maintained to be up to safety regulations. To realize that depending on the state that is not at all a given is quite sobering.

+1

+2

Seeing a commercial for Lego Friends Amusement Park just makes me thinks of this kid.

A PP mentioned that the bars were bent and there was blood on the netting, but when I keep thinking how this could happen, I think his strap failed, he was flung forward, and the raft went over him. Splashing blood, bending the bars and causing additional injuries if his neck wasn't already snapped.

I want to feel like it would be okay for my kid to ride a water slide again. I know mostly it is, but I can't imagine the guilt his parents are feeling. Their kid's death wasn't their fault, but I'm sure they blame themselves irrational as it is.

NP here. Not irrational. If you are a Republican legislator and you vote for deregulation, this is a foreseeable, direct consequence. No one should have to die, but perhaps this Republican will grow a conscience because of it. Save your righteous indignation for the folks that allow corporations to flout safety in the name of profits.

And if you don't think cars, trains and airplanes are safer because of regulation--why aren't you driving a vintage Pinto or Corvair?

Maybe you could grow a conscience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The money doesn't matter. I lost my youngest son in a fatal accident where damages were awarded to us. That money is blood money and Ive never spent a dime (other than paying our lawyer). I throw away the statement every month before even opening the envelope. Its an amount that could significantly change our lifestyle and I have no interest in a penny of it. What I want is my child. What these parents want isn't money. It annoys me that pages upon pages keep bringing up how much money they should be able to get, will be able to get, etc etc. I would spend the rest of my life working min wage jobs in the worst conditions imaginable if it meant all my children were living.

I'm sorry, PP. I totally understand this. Discussing the money for me is more like "how can the people responsible for this suffer for their irresponsibility" than assuming the parents want a payout. I know they don't. I'm very sorry for your loss.

Once you recover you can use the money for some good in the world, PP. please try to find something and some purpose.
Perhaps enhancing the lives of children. Perhaps some other children who are in need of attention might bring you some joy.
Wouldn't it bother you if there are children whose are still here but who are suffering? Maybe you could use some of your $$ to help.

Eff you. PP doesn't have the flu. You don't 'recover' from having your child die in an accident. Your grief comes and goes, but it's permanent. Who are you to tell the PP what to do with the money? It's not this poster's job to fix the world because she endured a horrific tragedy. Get off your high horse and help some people yourself.

Calm the eff down yourself. The PP was trying to be helpful and suggest a way for dealing with her grief, of finding some joy. There are a lot of assumptions in your diatribe that are not supported by what PP wrote. Jesus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The money doesn't matter. I lost my youngest son in a fatal accident where damages were awarded to us. That money is blood money and Ive never spent a dime (other than paying our lawyer). I throw away the statement every month before even opening the envelope. Its an amount that could significantly change our lifestyle and I have no interest in a penny of it. What I want is my child. What these parents want isn't money. It annoys me that pages upon pages keep bringing up how much money they should be able to get, will be able to get, etc etc. I would spend the rest of my life working min wage jobs in the worst conditions imaginable if it meant all my children were living.

I'm sorry, PP. I totally understand this. Discussing the money for me is more like "how can the people responsible for this suffer for their irresponsibility" than assuming the parents want a payout. I know they don't. I'm very sorry for your loss.

Once you recover you can use the money for some good in the world, PP. please try to find something and some purpose.
Perhaps enhancing the lives of children. Perhaps some other children who are in need of attention might bring you some joy.
Wouldn't it bother you if there are children whose are still here but who are suffering? Maybe you could use some of your $$ to help.

Eff you. PP doesn't have the flu. You don't 'recover' from having your child die in an accident. Your grief comes and goes, but it's permanent. Who are you to tell the PP what to do with the money? It's not this poster's job to fix the world because she endured a horrific tragedy. Get off your high horse and help some people yourself.

Calm the eff down yourself. The PP was trying to be helpful and suggest a way for dealing with her grief, of finding some joy. There are a lot of assumptions in your diatribe that are not supported by what PP wrote. Jesus.

Sorry, PP, but the "Wouldn't it bother you if there are children still here..." was a very callous statement. PP may not have intended it that way, but as someone who has lost a child myself, I bristled at this too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will say this event has seriously opened my eyes to the presumption of safety we have in amusement parks vis a bus rides. If I go to Hersheypark and the coaster is running, I assume that means it was tested for safety, approved by a governing board, and frequently inspected and maintained to be up to safety regulations. To realize that depending on the state that is not at all a given is quite sobering.

+1

+2

Seeing a commercial for Lego Friends Amusement Park just makes me thinks of this kid.

A PP mentioned that the bars were bent and there was blood on the netting, but when I keep thinking how this could happen, I think his strap failed, he was flung forward, and the raft went over him. Splashing blood, bending the bars and causing additional injuries if his neck wasn't already snapped.

I want to feel like it would be okay for my kid to ride a water slide again. I know mostly it is, but I can't imagine the guilt his parents are feeling. Their kid's death wasn't their fault, but I'm sure they blame themselves irrational as it is.

NP here. Not irrational. If you are a Republican legislator and you vote for deregulation, this is a foreseeable, direct consequence. No one should have to die, but perhaps this Republican will grow a conscience because of it. Save your righteous indignation for the folks that allow corporations to flout safety in the name of profits.

And if you don't think cars, trains and airplanes are safer because of regulation--why aren't you driving a vintage Pinto or Corvair?

+1

AMEN.

Lack of regulation is backward.

[Anonymous]

^^^ You have no idea the darkness that accompanies losing a child. You don't want to think about the other children who are still here when *your* child is not. Maybe, eventually, slowly you can come to that place. But maybe not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely heartbreaking. And to think the boy's brother witnessed it. Pray this never happens to anyone else.

Prayer? Pray if you like but enact reasonable laws and impose shattering fines for non-compliance.