Nearly two years after Caleb Schwab’s tragic death, the Schlitterbahn waterpark located in Kansas City, Kansas is finally tearing down the Verruckt water slide that caused his fatal injuries.
According to the Kansas City Star, the company plans to begin the removal of the slide after Labor Day weekend of this year. The plan to remove the Verruckt, which is a whopping 7 stories tall and was heralded as one of the tallest slides in the world at its 2014 opening, was announced on July 12 during a court hearing.
A Schlitterbahn attorney said that the process is “fairly complicated,” so removing the slide could take approximately three weeks.
The removal of the Verruckt follows months of legal hearings and multiple criminal charges placed on five Schlitterbahn employees.
Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry and Verruckt lead designer John Schooley are facing charges of second degree murder. Tyler Miles, the former director of operations for the Kansas City location has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and interfering with law enforcement. Maintenance workers John Zalsman and David Hughes have also been charged with interfering with law enforcement. All five have pleaded not guilty.
The Schwab family also reached a settlement with Schlitterbahn at Thursday’s hearing, receiving a sum of $20 million.
Caleb Schwab died after being decapitated while riding the Verruckt in August of 2016. He was the son of Kansas state representative Scott Schwab.
“As a family continuing to heal, we welcome the decision of the court today,” Schwab said. “This is an important step to our family and believe it is to this community as well.”