Autopsy Report Exclusive Exclusive — Caleb Schwab

Multiple witness accounts and engineering reports later revealed that as the raft crested the hill, it did not stay flush with the fiberglass slide. Instead, it "went airborne" [1†L9]. The Verruckt, aware of the danger of riders flying out, had been retrofitted with a high overhead netting system held in place by heavy metal poles to protect riders [12†L19-L20]. According to subsequent criminal indictments, as the raft sailed into the air, the exposed front seat slammed Caleb directly into a metal pole supporting the netting [12†L22-L24].

The Wyandotte County coroner's office conducted the autopsy the day after the accident. While early reports briefly categorized the death as a "fatal neck injury," the full scope of the tragedy was soon revealed:

While the civil case resolved quickly, the criminal proceedings dragged on for years, resulting in one of the most controversial legal outcomes in Kansas history. caleb schwab autopsy report exclusive

In 2018, a grand jury indicted Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeffrey Henry, designer John Schooley, and park operations manager David Hughes. They faced charges ranging from involuntary manslaughter to reckless second-degree murder. Investigators alleged that park executives deliberately concealed known reports of rafts lifting off the tracks during testing and commercial operation.

The settlement was described as a totalling nearly $20 million [3†L7-L8]. In a highly unusual move, the family structured the payout so that Caleb’s three surviving brothers would receive lifetime payments from the settlement fund [13†L3-L6]. In Johnson County District Court, Judge Thomas Sutherland signed the order approving the settlement, noting that it was "fair, reasonable, valid and equitable" [3†L25-L27]. According to subsequent criminal indictments, as the raft

As Scott Schwab poignantly stated, "Six went to the park and five came back". Those words serve as a haunting reminder of the human cost of negligence and the importance of holding corporations accountable for the safety of their rides. Caleb Schwab may be gone, but his story continues to resonate, reminding us that in the pursuit of thrills, safety must never be compromised.

In the aftermath of Caleb's death, his family and community have advocated for greater awareness about ATV safety and the importance of proper safety gear. The incident serves as a reminder to parents, caregivers, and riders to take necessary precautions when operating recreational vehicles. In 2018, a grand jury indicted Schlitterbahn co-owner

The Kansas Attorney General brought second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter charges against the park’s co-owner and the lead designer.

The two women who rode with Caleb also suffered serious injuries and settled claims with Schlitterbahn for an undisclosed amount. As a condition of their agreements, the women asked that the Verrückt be torn down—a request that was honored by the park.

[Slide Crest] ---> [Raft Airborne] ---> [Collision with Metal Hoops] ---> [Fatal Impact] | | 168 Feet Netting System 1. Fundamental Violations of Physics

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