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Complaints and calls for stricter oversight follow water-slide fatality

Verruckt at Schlitterbahns
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas legislator says he wants to examine the state’s relatively light oversight of amusement park rides like the water slide on which a 10-year-old boy was killed. Meanwhile, complaints have surfaced about safety issues on the ride.

Democratic state Sen. David Haley of Kansas City said Tuesday that he’s hoping there will be bipartisan support for a review. He said people shouldn’t be risking their lives in having fun at an amusement park. Kansas requires annual inspections of permanent rides. The state Department of Labor is required to randomly audit inspection records.

Caleb Schwab died Sunday at the Schiltterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas. He was the son of Republican state Rep. Scott Schwab of Olathe.

House Majority Leader Jene Vickrey said lawmakers’ immediate focus is on supporting the Schwab family.

At least two people who’ve ridden the Verrukt waterslide at Schlitterbahn’s say shoulder straps snapped or popped off during the ride.

Paul Oberhauser told local television station KCTV that the safety restraints on his raft on the Verruckt waterslide weren’t working properly when he rode it on July 26 at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark.

The Nebraska man says his shoulder strap “busted loose” during the ride and he “just held on.” A video shot by his wife shows it loose at the ride’s end. He says he told workers about the loose strap.

Kenneth Conrad told WDAF-TV that he rode the waterslide last year with a friend whose shoulder strap came “completely off.” Conrad’s wife snapped a photo at the end of the ride showing the strap missing. Conrad says he didn’t file a complaint with the park.

The park’s spokeswoman didn’t immediately return a message Tuesday from The Associated Press seeking comment on the claims.

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