KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ The amusement park ride that killed a 10-year-old boy will never operate again.
Billed as the world's tallest water slide, Schlitterbahn Kansas City Water Park's Verruckt in Kansas City, Kan., will be demolished after the investigation into the death of 10-year Caleb Thomas Schwab is complete, according to a statement released Tuesday from Schlitterbahn.
Caleb was killed Aug. 7 while riding the water slide. He was found dead with what police termed a "fatal neck injury."
The statement read:
"All of us at Schlitterbahn have been heartbroken over the tragedy that occurred on Verruckt. In our 50 years of providing an environment for families and friends to gather, we've never experienced this kind of devastating event. The safety of our staff and our guests is our top priority. We are parents and grandparents ourselves and many of us have ridden Verruckt with our own children and grandchildren over the years it operated.
"Once the investigation is concluded and we are given permission by the court, Verruckt will be decommissioned _ closed permanently and the slide removed from the tower. In our opinion, it is the only proper course of action following this tragedy.
"We will, at some point in the future, announce what will be built in its place."
