Teen employee, 17, killed after go-kart crashes into forklift at North Carolina amusement park
A teenager at an amusement park has died after the go-kart he was riding collided with a forklift truck.
Kamal Seveion Sewell, of Simpsonville, North Carolina, died in the incident that occurred Friday at Frankie’s Fun Park in Greenville.
Authorities rushed to the scene shortly before noon after the go-kart he was driving collided with the forklift, which was driven by another employee.
An employee who witnessed the accident reported it WYFF4 that the teeth of the elevator were off the ground and that Sewer had crashed into it at full speed, hitting his head.
While the worker said Sewer “immediately became unconscious,” a local coroner has yet to determine his official cause and manner of death.
The park’s manager, Jamie Waddell, later confirmed that Sewell had worked at the site for just over a year.
Waddell said The Greenville News that the park was now working with law enforcement and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
According to the outlet, the park was closed after Sewell’s death. As of Saturday it is unclear whether it will be open again.
Kamal Seveion Sewell, of Simpsonville, North Carolina, died in the incident that occurred Friday at Frankie’s Fun Park in Greenville
An employee who saw what happened told WYFF4 that the elevator’s teeth were off the ground and that Sewer had hit it at full speed, hitting his head
In a statement to 11Alivesaid his father Dektric: ‘My son was loved by many. Seveion was a good boy who worked and developed into a young man.
‘He didn’t get into any trouble. He lost his life working at an unsupervised amusement park.”
The colleague who witnessed the incident said: ‘He always had a smile on his face. He was a very hospitable person. Very wonderful and friendly to guests, wonderful and friendly to us, his colleagues.
“It is truly sad that this situation has occurred when it could very easily have been avoided.”
In a statement, the park said: “Frankie’s Fun Park in Greenville regrets to announce that a tragic accident occurred on Friday, December 27 that resulted in the loss of 17-year-old Seveion Sewell. Seveion worked at Frankie’s for more than a year.
“Currently, Frankie’s provides information and assistance to both law enforcement and OSHA.
‘Once the circumstances and causes of the accident have been established, additional information will be provided if necessary.
‘It is with heavy hearts that we share this news. Please keep Seveion and his family in your thoughts.”
In a statement to 11Alive, his father Dektric, seen here with his son, described how he was loved by many.
Authorities rushed to the scene shortly before noon after the go-kart he was driving collided with the forklift
Since news of his death spread on social media, users have expressed well wishes for his family.
One person wrote: ‘Sorry for the pain you are all experiencing right now. He looks like a great kid and working at the age of 17 says a lot about his character today, along with the things he has achieved.
‘May he rest in peace. This is an absolute tragedy that should never have happened. We stand behind all of you.”
Another added: ‘I can’t imagine the pain of this family of boys, nor the pain of the employee who was driving the forklift.’
Another said: ‘This is such a tragic story and my heart hurts as the family has to deal with this around the holidays.
“Many prayers for them. Please let us know how the community can help you all.”
It comes after the family of 14-year-old Tire Sampson, who died after falling from a 400-foot carnival ride, was awarded a $310 million payout by a jury in Florida.
Tire Sampson, 14, died in March 2022 after falling during the ride in Orlando, Florida
Tire is shown on the right. In this photo, taken just before the ride took to the air, his harness is not fastened, unlike the other boys. It is unclear whether he secured it before the ride started
His family sued Austrian manufacturer Funtime Handels GMBH, arguing that his death was caused by safety errors and negligence by the ride’s operators and creator.
After the award, Sampson’s father Yarnell Sampson spoke through tears as he called the money a “Band-Aid.”
“No amount of money can solve this problem, it may have put a band aid on the problem, but every day I have to wake up and I still don’t see him,” he told NBC.
After a jury awarded damages this week, the family’s attorney, Ben Crump, said: “Tyre’s death was the result of blatant negligence and a failure to put safety before profit.”
Tire was on vacation with friends from his American football team over spring break 2022 when he got on the ride, despite telling his friends he didn’t know if he could “make it.”
In a shocking and graphic video, Tyre’s body is seen slipping from the safety harness and falling to the ground.