FAME BEFORE SAFETY

Former Park Boss Charged in Boy’s Verrückt Waterslide Death

Following a 19-month investigation into how 10-year-old Caleb Schwab died on the world’s tallest water slide.

The former manager of a Kansas City water park has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery, and reckless endangerment for the 2016 death of 10-year-old Caleb Schwab. Schwab, the son of Kansas state representative Scott Schwab, died after his raft went airborne on the Verrückt ride at Schlitterbahn Water Park. Following a 19-month investigation into the incident, a grand jury on Friday indicted the Schlitterbahn company and Tyler Miles, the former director of operations. The 47-page indictment says the company knew the ride, the world's largest water slide, was dangerous and ignored warnings about its safety in a quest to get attention from a cable television show. “This child's death and the rapidly growing list of injuries were foreseeable and expected outcomes,” the indictment said. Miles, the only individual named in the indictment, surrendered to authorities Friday and has been released on bond.