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Kansas State Audit Finds Numerous Safety Violations At Schlitterbahn Water Park

Laura Spencer
/
KCUR 89.3
Kansas auditors found dozens of violations at Schlitterbahn, the same water park where a 10-year old boy was killed in 2016.

Updated Thursday, 7 a.m.

The Wyandotte County District Attorney's office says only rides at Schlitterbahn which are found to be in compliance with state regulations will be operated. 

The county DA's statement says it will help ensure rides will come into compliance with state laws before they open for the public. The Kansas Department of Labor will perform inspections and rides will be put into operation as they are cleared.  

The original post continues below. 

An audit from the Kansas Department of Labor alleges dozens of safety violations at Schlitterbahn waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas. 

Auditors, who toured the park earlier this month, cite 147 items they say need immediate action on 11 of Schlitterbahn's water rides. The violations include incomplete training and operating manuals, unavailable records and inadequate safety signage.

The report says one ride was still using parts that a manufacturer had recommended be replaced. 

The Associated Press reports that Schlitterbahn officials say the report contains "misleading and false information." A park spokesperson, Winter Prosapio, said the park plans to address most of the problems by the time the park is set to open for summer on Friday. 

Prosapio also said Schlitterbahn will be "challenging the details" of the report and claimed the audit found no problems with the functioning of the park's rides. 

In 2016, 10-year old Caleb Schwab was killed riding the Verrcukt water slide at Schlitterbahn. That slide has since been closed. 

In April, Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry and the Verrcukt slide's lead designer Jeff Schooley were indicted on second-degree murder charges in Schwab's death. A grand jury also indicted the Kansas City, Kansas park's former director of operations Tyler Miles with involuntary manslaguther. 

Nicolas Telep is KCUR's morning news intern. 

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