10-year-old son of Kansas lawmaker dies on world’s tallest water slide

The 10-year-old son of Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife, Michele, died Sunday in an accident on what’s billed as the tallest water slide in the world in Kansas City.

It’s unclear how Caleb Thomas Schwab was killed on the Verrückt water slide at the Schlitterbahn Water Park. The park was shut down after the accident.

Kansas City, Kansas, police issued a statement late Monday afternoon saying that Caleb suffered a fatal neck injury while riding the slide with two women, neither of whom was related to him. They suffered minor facial injuries and were treated at an area hospital, police said.

Emergency responders arrived to find the boy dead in a pool at the end of the ride, according to the statement, which offered no further details.

“We honestly don’t know what’s happened,” Winter Prosapio, a spokeswoman for the New Braunfels-based company, said in a news conference afterward.

She read a statement from Schlitterbahn Sunday afternoon saying: “We are saddened to share that a young boy died on Verrückt this afternoon. Given that safety is our first priority, we have closed the Kansas City park today and Monday and have closed the ride pending a full investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.”

According to Kansas City station KSHB, however, “more than one water park guest” said the harnesses on the ride were not working Sunday.

The accident happened about 2:30 p.m., according to The Kansas City Star. Off-duty police officers working security at the park called it in. Police are working with the park on the investigation.

Verrückt, German for “insane,” opened in 2014 and at 17 stories is taller than Niagara Falls. Riders are strapped into a 3-person raft and plunge down a net-covered chute 168-plus feet on the first drop, glide up a hill and then drop another 50 feet, reaching speeds up to 70 mph. They must be at least 4 feet 5 inches tall, with the total weight between 400 and 500 pounds.

Asked Sunday if the Schwabs child fell off the slide, Prosapio said, “I have no more details at this time. We honestly don’t know what’s happened — that’s why a full investigation is necessary. We have to understand what’s happened.”

She said all rides in the water park are inspected everyday, and are inspected by “an outside party” before the season begins.

She added, “Our focus really is on the family involved in this accident.”

This isn’t the first time the slide has encountered safety issues. It had to be partially torn down and redesigned after early tests had rafts and sandbag occupants launching off the slide at the top of the hill, according to USA Today.

In June, Schlitterbahn opened what it bills as the World’s Tallest Water Coaster in Galveston. Called Massiv (German for “massive”), the coaster stands 81 feet 6 3/4 inches tall and is the equivalent of 2 1/2 football fields.

This story was originally published August 8, 2016 at 1:25 PM with the headline "10-year-old son of Kansas lawmaker dies on world’s tallest water slide."