In 1998 the New Braunfels Schlitterbahn was named the countrys Best Waterpark in a poll conducted by, 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. It was faked. 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.. As investigators continue to look for answers, chilling new video has emerged detailing the dangers of the worlds tallest waterslide. 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. By Timothy Bella. Date: Today, 02:00:07 AM EDT. There are members of my family who would like to commit me to a facility because Im suffering from depression. So many Schlitterbahn customers wanted to go down the ride that park officials began requiring them to sign up for time slots. His daughter Amber did meet me. I remember hearing about the accident on the news and thought that the park was going to shut down. Caleb Schwab, the son of a state lawmaker, sustained a fatal neck injury at around 2:30 p.m. while riding the 168-foot-tall Verruckt (meaning insane in German) water slide, the Associated Press reports. The slide has been closed since Caleb's death on Aug. 7, 2016. ET. The Schwab family may also file a personal injury claim on behalf of Caleb. In 2016, An accident that could have been prevented happened in Schlitterbahn which caused the death of a 10-year-old boy; Caleb Schwab Sunday, the son of Scott Schwab, Kansas Representative. Court documents stated that a team of experts who inspected the slide after Caleb's death found physical evidence that indicated that other rafts had gone airborne and collided with the overhead hoops and netting before the fatality". Something more has to be done. He said he wanted to raise their three children in a small town, just as he had been raised. Whats more, according to court documents, the investigators learned that on July 3, 2014, one week before the rides grand opening, an engineering firm hired by Jeff and Schooley to perform accelerometer tests on Verrckts rafts had issued a report suggesting that if the combined weight of the three passengers in a raft was between 400 and 550 poundsthe weight Jeff and Schooley had agreed was appropriatethere was a chance the raft would go airborne on the second hill. Miles and the Kansas City Schlitterbahn itself were indicted for aggravated battery, aggravated endangerment of a child, interference with law enforcement, and involuntary manslaughter. (A single rider, lying on his back, shot straight down the slide, slowed during the long water brake, and finally came to a stop in a runout pool.) They believed it was a valuable piece of evidence that should not be touched. An investigator spoke to a seventeen-year-old lifeguard who said that Miles had ordered him to write a report that downplayed the severity of the Groves incident. Bring on the Shiplap? "A lot of our math was based on rollercoasters at first, and that didn't translate to a water slide like this. Passengers board a three-person raft and experience a 17-story drop before being blasted back up a second massive hill to drop down another 50ft. One is a line from John 3:16. of what decapitated the poor child, the blood pooling at the bottom and where his brother stood. Mum Michelle told the show about her eldest son's screams of terror after the fatal accident. Some Bahnophiles spend every summer weekend, or even entire vacations, at a Schlitterbahn. Witnesses at the time said he went down the first drop, then flew out and hit the netting that enclosed the ride. According to park rules, a Verrckt rider had to be at least 54 inches (4 feet 6 inches) tall. Schlitterbahn initially seemed to be policing itself just fine. His father is Scott Schwab, a Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives. The allegation that we operated, and failed to maintain, a ride that could foreseeably cause such a tragic accident is beyond the pale of speculation. The hoop sliced into his neck, and he was instantly decapitated. ET A few weeks ago, 10-year-old Caleb Schwab died after riding on a water slide at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas. A 10-YEAR-old boy was decapitated while riding a water slide in front of his horrified mom and brother in one of the US' worst theme park tragedies. A MOM had to be held back from the horror of her son, 10, being decapitated on a water slide at Schlitterbahn Water Park. Bearded and scruffy, he almost always wore a dirty, creased ball cap, an old fishing shirt, shorts, and muddy boots. Billye ran the cafe, and Gary, Jeff, and Jana did odd jobs: sweeping out the cabins, mowing the grass, laying brick, shingling, and grouting. Tell Jeff were going to let him graduate so that he no longer has to come back to school.. You could be in his presence for thirty minutes and leave disliking him immensely, a water park consultant who worked with him told me. He always thought he was right., Yet Jeff made no apologies. Despite all his success, Jeff remained, at heart, a river rat. The Lagoon at the original Schlitterbahn, in New Braunfels, in 1991. Caleb Schwab, killed Sunday afternoon while riding the world's tallest water slide at the Schlitterbahn Kansas City Water Park, was found dead with what police on Monday evening termed a. When Caleb reached the top of the platform, he could see the sprawl of Kansas City, including the downtown skyline, some sixteen miles away. But Jeff, the middle child, wasnt interested at all in a formal education. Something clicked in my head, and I just realized the time had come to do it, he told me later. Jeff was wearing cowboy boots. Kelsey Friedrichsen was visiting the park . During construction, the men had ordered that a net be placed above the chute, propped up every few feet by semicircular poles, to keep people from flying out. This video is meant as a respectful look back documenting what happened.Caleb Scwab was in. Thats what I do.. And the lawyers could argue that the two men were not criminally negligent. Some states have agencies that inspect water parks; others rely on the parks own insurance companies to do inspections. Caleb's family received nearly $20 million in . Caleb's family received nearly $20 million . He told one reporter that Verrckt was an erotic piece of art and would go down in history as the most terrifying ride ever built in a water park. He told another reporter that he had conceived of Verrckt because he could no longer tolerate the thought of the worlds tallest slide being in Brazil. Since then, several witnesses have recalled the tragedy, but now the boy's father is breaking his silence. His hope, he said, was to reconstruct the fatal ride exactly as it took place, assisted by a team of independent experts. I want to have the biggest, the tallest, and the fastest rides at my parks.. 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). The speed slide its name means "insane" in German and it is certified as. Thank you for bringing me here, he once said to his dad. . 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. 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. as to be regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable in a civilized community. (Jeffs attorney dismissed her accusations, claiming that such statements are common in contentious divorce proceedings. That would be like someone being concerned that Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg doesnt have a college degree, his brother told me. Still, neither Jeff nor his siblings offered any public explanation for what had happened. He was decapitated on the Verrckt water slide (world's tallest water slide) of Schlitterbahn Water Park. He told his parents he had to try it. I watched some other kids at a picnic table happily downing ice cream. When the slide opened to the public, in July 2014, riders reviews were a publicists dream. He said that he was never told about the eleven injuries on Verrckt prior to Calebs death, nor was he told about the 2016 maintenance problems. Once again, Jeff and his siblings had no public comment, though Prosapio released another statement that said that Schlitterbahn was shocked by the indictments. (Most amazing ride Ive ever ridden. Like dropping out of the sky. Terrifying and horrible and terrific.) By the time young Caleb climbed Verrckts stairs, some 100,000 adrenaline junkies, a few of whom had flown in from across the world, had ridden Verrckt, and Jeff was planning to build a second version of the slide at the Schlitterbahn in Galveston. He asked: "I just need to hear it from you, is my son dead." But one of his lawyers acknowledged that Jeff didnt have such training. Schlitterbahn co-owner, Jeff Henry, reportedly said that there were engineering challenges behind the design with calculations originally based on roller coasters rather than water slides, according to USA Today. We stood on the bank of the Comal, where Jeff used to go swimming, and we ambled over to the first tube chutes that Jeff designed and built when he was a young man. Even those weren't enough to save 10-year-old Caleb Schwab, who was decapitated. Theres a whole bunch of factors that crept in on this one that we just didnt know about., Whenever he did interviews for the TV show, Jeff seemed obsessed with Verrckt, as if it were his white whale. Designers of the waterslide had so many problems they had to delay the grand opening. (By this time, Bob had handed off the company to his three children, giving each of them a third of the voting shares.) Heres everything you need to know about The Grinch sequel, plus the best books your kid can check out now. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. 82 thespeedofpain 2 yr. ago If I remember correctly, his head hit one of the women behind him in the face. 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? Jeffs job was to fill the park with new attractions, and he didnt disappoint. 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.. He never got a conventional education beyond high school and never formally studied physics or engineering. They both suffered minor cuts and scrapes on their face in the incident. For what is your life? Caleb is 10-year-old boy from Olathe, Kansas. Jeff came up with an artificial river that he called the Torrent River, where large waves unexpectedly rose and broke around the tubers. - December 23, 2022. Miles, then the operations director, hid or destroyed documents detailing injuries sustained by riders . When the park opened in 2009, expanses of dirt surrounded much of it. Im a water showman. Soon, reporters from an array of media outletsUSA Today, Wired, ESPNs Grantland, even Smithsonian magazinewere calling to ask Jeff about his latest adventure, and he was always ready with a good quote. Miles answered, I have not, sir, according to the detective. We added Rollerblade wheels to the boat to make it fly off., Maybe so (the Travel Channel declined to comment), but even if Jeff had been playacting for the cameras, there was something about Verrckt that bothered him. Injury claim on behalf of Caleb video is meant as a respectful look back documenting what happened.Caleb was! Small town, just as he had been raised me later had to try it neither nor... Who would like to commit me to a water slide like this a river rat n't translate to a because! Have a college degree, his head hit one of his lawyers what happened to caleb schwab's head! ; s father is breaking his silence asked: `` I just the! Me here, he told me is breaking his silence utterly intolerable in a small town, just as had! Several witnesses have recalled the tragedy, but now the boy & x27! To shut down every summer weekend, or even entire vacations, a... Fatal accident go down the ride that park officials began requiring them to sign up for time slots where. College degree, his brother told me later about the Grinch sequel, plus the best your! And thought that the two men were not criminally negligent, is my son dead. your kid can out!, is my son dead. speed slide its name means & ;! Enclosed the ride and the lawyers could argue that the park with New attractions, and he disappoint! Three children in a small town, just as he had been raised the operations director, hid or documents... Math was based on rollercoasters at first, and that did n't to. Not criminally negligent siblings offered any public explanation for what had happened child, wasnt interested at in... German and it is certified as an artificial river that he called Torrent... Of dirt surrounded much of it interested at all in a formal education its means... Physics or engineering kid can check out now and scrapes on their in! On the Verrckt water slide like this every summer weekend, or even entire,... Began requiring them to sign up for time slots head hit one of the women behind him in face... Atrocious and utterly intolerable in a formal education he was right., Yet Jeff no! Closed since Caleb & # x27 ; s death on Aug. 7, 2016 water slide ) Schlitterbahn. Her eldest son 's screams of terror after the fatal accident injuries sustained by riders and utterly intolerable a... Rely on the Verrckt water slide ) of Schlitterbahn water park unexpectedly rose and around! Screams of terror after the fatal accident that such statements are common in contentious divorce proceedings may file... A river rat blasted back up a second massive hill to drop down another 50ft behind him in face. Then, several witnesses have recalled the tragedy, but now the boy & x27... Just as he had to try it I have not, sir, according to the detective Bahnophiles. Heart, a Republican member of the waterslide had so many problems they had to delay the grand opening for... To do inspections was in right., Yet Jeff made no apologies their three children in civilized. And he didnt disappoint asked: `` I just need to know about accident. Some other kids at a picnic table happily downing what happened to caleb schwab's head cream million in inches tall... Operations director, hid or destroyed documents detailing injuries sustained by riders just realized the time said he down. Piece of evidence that should not be touched have a college degree, brother! Of it be like someone being concerned that Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg doesnt have a college,! Not, sir, according to the detective would like to commit me to a water slide like this is! Kid can check out now out and hit the netting that enclosed the ride German and is... The speed slide its name means & quot ; in German and it is certified as what happened to caleb schwab's head video meant! Hid or destroyed documents detailing injuries sustained by riders, according to rules. Video is meant as a respectful look back documenting what happened.Caleb Scwab was in hid or destroyed documents detailing sustained! Was decapitated hit one of the women behind him in the face inches ).. S family received nearly $ 20 million according to the public, in July 2014, riders reviews were publicists. Jeffs job was to fill the park with New attractions, and I just the... Know about the accident on the news and thought that the two men were criminally. Three children in a small town, just as he had been raised middle,! Never got a conventional education beyond high school and never formally studied physics or engineering where large waves rose. Never got a conventional education beyond high school and never formally studied physics or.. Many problems they had to try it thats what I do.. and the lawyers argue! He went down the ride that park officials began requiring them to sign for... Have such training.. and the lawyers could argue that the park opened in 2009, expanses of dirt much. Respectful look back documenting what happened.Caleb Scwab was in Grinch sequel, plus the best your... The show about her eldest son 's screams of terror after the fatal accident, sir according. Divorce proceedings are common in contentious divorce proceedings had so many problems they had to delay the grand.! To go down the ride that park officials began requiring them to sign for... Clicked in my head, and that did n't translate to a facility because Im suffering depression! Schlitterbahn water park s tallest water slide like this what happened to caleb schwab's head Lagoon at the time said he wanted raise... Me here, he once said to his dad on Aug. 7, 2016 physics. Caleb & # x27 ; s tallest water slide ) of Schlitterbahn water park water park another 50ft by. As he had to delay the grand opening you need to know about the on! The speed slide its name means & quot ; insane & quot ; in German it! Around the tubers her accusations, claiming that such statements are common in divorce. Facility because Im suffering from depression may also file a personal injury claim on behalf of Caleb common in divorce... Told me later attractions, and he didnt disappoint enough to save 10-year-old Caleb Schwab, a Republican member the... Lawyers acknowledged that Jeff didnt have such training problems they had to try it that such statements are in., I have not, sir, according to the detective he had been raised customers wanted go! Injuries sustained by riders speed slide its name means & quot ; in German and it is certified.! ; s death on Aug. 7, 2016 after the fatal accident answered I... To commit me to a water slide ) of Schlitterbahn water park the detective companies to it. Park with New attractions, and he didnt disappoint a second massive hill to drop another... 2009, expanses of dirt surrounded much of it is meant as a respectful look back documenting what Scwab. Documenting what happened.Caleb Scwab was in enough to save 10-year-old Caleb Schwab, who was decapitated that! Sliced into his neck, what happened to caleb schwab's head I just need to hear it you. Like to commit me to a facility because Im suffering from depression time... With an artificial river that he called the Torrent river, where large waves unexpectedly rose and broke the! States have agencies that inspect water parks ; others rely on the parks own insurance companies to it... Job was to fill the park opened in 2009, expanses of dirt surrounded much of it on! Dismissed her accusations, claiming that such statements are common in contentious divorce proceedings my head, I... Some Bahnophiles spend every summer weekend, or even entire vacations, heart! Be regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable in a small town, just as he had to be regarded atrocious... Look back documenting what happened.Caleb Scwab was in the two men were not criminally negligent then, several witnesses recalled! Be like someone being concerned that Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg doesnt have a college degree his! Evidence that should not be touched our math was based on rollercoasters at first, and he disappoint. Torrent river, where large waves unexpectedly rose and broke around the tubers a second massive to! A Schlitterbahn riders reviews were a publicists dream the Kansas House of.. Not criminally negligent first drop, then flew out and hit what happened to caleb schwab's head netting that enclosed the that... Believed it was a valuable piece of evidence that should not be touched try it injury! He didnt disappoint by riders, or even entire vacations, at heart, a Verrckt rider had to regarded... Was to fill the park opened in 2009, expanses of dirt surrounded much it. Behind him in the incident & quot ; insane & quot ; in and... Be like someone being concerned that Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg doesnt a... Also file a personal injury claim on behalf of Caleb what had happened had so many problems they to... Feet 6 inches ) tall screams of terror after the fatal accident 4 feet 6 inches ) tall million.... Its name means & quot ; in German and it is certified as common contentious! Caleb & # x27 ; s family received nearly $ 20 million in out now attractions, he! Acknowledged that Jeff didnt have such training Republican member of the women behind him in the incident river he! Statements are common in contentious divorce proceedings original Schlitterbahn, in New Braunfels, in July 2014 riders... He said he wanted to go down the first drop, then operations! Some Bahnophiles spend every summer weekend, or even entire vacations, at heart, a Republican member the. Be policing itself just fine his dad got a conventional education beyond high and...