Family files lawsuit over waterslide crash injuries

Winsport is being sued over a waterslide collision two years ago that left a Calgary father and son in need of medical treatment.

A statement of claim filed in Calgary Court of Queen’s Bench seeks nearly $3 million in damages for Christina and Richard Moore, and their seven-year-old son, Charlie.

Their lawsuit says the family was at Winsport on Aug. 12, 2017, when all three purchased twohour passes for The Plunge, a temporary, 246-metre, three-lane waterslide at the park operated by the Calgary Olympic Development Association.

According to their court document, on their first trip down the slide Richard Moore was instructed

by the attendant to proceed down the same lane as his son, who had been sent down on an inner tube.

“Richard proceeded down his lane as directed but was unable to prevent himself from colliding at a high rate of speed with Charlie, who was almost stationary in his tube on the waterslide when he was struck from behind,” the claim says. “The accident caused serious injuries to both Charlie and Richard.”

Charlie, who was two days shy of his sixth birthday, suffered an open wound to the back of his head that required three stitches, along with headaches, sleep disturbance and fatigue among his post-injury symptoms.

His father suffered a traumatic brain injury with post-concussion symptoms and two lacerations to his right eyebrow, which required stitching.

“The accident was caused solely due to the negligence of the defendants,” the lawsuit states.

The family is seeking $2,997,000 in damages, plus $60,000 to the province for medical care costs.

A statement of defence disputing the unproven allegations has not been filed.