© 2024 University of Missouri - KBIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Schwab Family Settles With Schlitterbahn In 10-Year-Old's Death

Schlitterbahn has said it will tear down Verrückt, which the water park billed as the world's tallest water slide.
Frank Morris
/
KCUR 89.3
Schlitterbahn has said it will tear down Verrückt, which the water park billed as the world's tallest water slide.

The family of a Kansas boy who died last summer while riding a slide at Schlitterbahn has reached a settlement with the water park.

Caleb Schwab, 10, died Aug. 7, 2016, while riding a water slide at Schlitterbahn in Kansas City, Kansas.
Credit Courtesy of the Schwab family
Caleb Schwab, 10, died Aug. 7, 2016, while riding a water slide at Schlitterbahn in Kansas City, Kansas.

Caleb Schwab, 10, was killed Aug. 7, 2016, while riding Verrückt, an attraction Schlitterbahn billed as the world’s tallest water slide.

It was Elected Official Day at the water park – Schwab’s father is Kansas Rep. Scott Schwab, R-Olathe.

A lawyer for the Schwab family said in a statement that  a settlement was reached Wednesday with two local Schlitterbahn entities as well as the manufacturer of the raft Caleb Schwab was riding in.

“The Schwab family remains determined to hold all those responsible for this tragedy accountable, while doing all they can to ensure this never happens again to another family,” the lawyer, Michael Rader, said.

More information about the settlement will be forthcoming, he added, but for now the terms remain confidential.

A Johnson County judge approved the settlement Wednesday. 

Schlitterbahn previously said it will tear down the 17-story water slide once the investigation into Caleb Schwab’s death is complete.

KCUR’s Dan Margolies contributed to this report.

Elle Moxley covers Missouri schools and politics for KCUR. You can reach her on Twitter @ellemoxley.

Copyright 2021 KCUR 89.3. To see more, visit KCUR 89.3.

Elle covers education for KCUR. The best part of her job is talking to students. Before coming to KCUR in 2014, Elle covered Indiana education policy for NPR’s StateImpact project. Her work covering Indiana’s exit from the Common Core was nationally recognized with an Edward R. Murrow award. Her work at KCUR has been recognized by the Missouri Broadcasters Association and the Kansas City Press Club. She is a graduate of the University Of Missouri School Of Journalism. Elle regularly tweets photos of her dog, Kingsley. There is a wounded Dr. Ian Malcolm bobblehead on her desk.