Son of Kansas lawmaker identified as victim of deadly accident at Schlitterbahn water park
The 10-year-old son of a Kansas state representative was killed Sunday while riding Verrückt, the 168-foot water slide at Schlitterbahn water park.
Caleb Thomas Schwab was the son of state Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife, Michele. The family released a statement on Sunday evening acknowledging Caleb’s death. “Since the day he was born, he brought abundant joy to our family and all those who he came into contact with,” the parents said in the statement, which asked for privacy.
The water park is closed Monday. At a brief news conference on Sunday, a Schlitterbahn spokeswoman said all rides are inspected daily and by an independent party at the beginning of the season.
Verrückt, which is German for “insane,” is the the tallest water side in the world. The three-person raft ride opened in July 2014. The Schlitterbahn website indicates that riders must be at least 4 feet 6 inches tall.
Schlitterbahn operates four parks in Texas in addition to the park in Kansas City, Kansas. A 20-year-old park employee at the Schlitterbahn resort in South Padre Island was killed in a workplace accident in 2013.
Update (3:35 p.m.): In a statement, Schlitterbahn said the park would tentatively reopen Wednesday. Verrückt will remain closed while the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department conducts the primary investigation.
