Father of 11-year-old killed on Adventureland ride speaks up following its closure

Back in 2021, 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo died while on the Raging River with his family. The new owners announced it would permanently shut down.

Back in 2021, 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo died while on the Raging River with his family. The new owners announced it would permanently shut down.

RIGHT NOW. GOOD EVENING. THE RIGHT MOVE, THAT IS WITH THE FAMILY OF MICHAEL JARAMILLO IS CALLING THE DECISION TO PERMANENTLY SHUT DOWN ADVENTURE LANDS RAGING RIVER RIDE. THE 11 YEAR OLD DIED WHEN THE RAFT HIS FAMILY WAS ON CAPSIZED IN JULY OF 2021. KCCI KAYLA JAMES SPOKE TO THE BOY’S FATHER RIGHT AFTER THE PARK’S BIG DECISION. IT SHOULDN’T BE UP TO NO MORE. IT’S LIKE THAT THING KILLED MY SON, DAVID JARAMILLO, SENIOR ADAMANT IN HIS FEELINGS ABOUT ADVENTURE LANDS RAGING RIVER RIDE, THE 2021 INCIDENT, INJURING HIM AND HIS OLDEST SON, ANDREW DOWNING. 11 YEAR OLD MICHAEL JARAMILLO. HE JUST HE WAS THE GUY CAN MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD. YOU COULD HAVE SAID OR ANGRY WHEN HE’S AROUND, BUT THERE’S A SADNESS THAT JARAMILLO FELT WITH MICHAEL. NOW NOT BEING AROUND. BUT THE RAGING RIVER RIDE ITSELF STILL EXISTING BY IT, BEING THERE, IT KIND OF FELT LIKE IT WAS MOCKING ME UNTIL RECENTLY, WHEN THE GENERAL MANAGER OF ADVENTURELAND PENNED A LETTER. I WAS SHOCKED. IT WAS ACTUALLY SHOCK. ANNOUNCING THE RAGING RIVER RIDE WOULD CLOSE PERMANENTLY. THE LETTER STATING THE DECISION TO CLOSE ARRIVED RIDE CAME AFTER MONTHS OF EXAMINING IT AND LEARNING WHAT ENHANCED MENT’S WOULD BE NEEDED. IT WAS THAT BAD OF NEGLECT FROM A PREVIOUS OWNERS. WHY DIDN’T THEY KEEP UP IT? WHY DIDN’T THEY DO WHAT THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO DO? THE PREVIOUS OWNERS ARE INVOLVED IN A LAWSUIT FILED BY THE GERRY MILLS, WHO ARE SEEKING NEARLY. $100 MILLION. THE LAWSUIT CLAIMS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE IOWA DIVISION OF LABOR SHOULD HAVE FOUND 17 SAFETY VIOLATIONS ON THE RIDE. SO THE NEW OWNERS ARE TAKING IT SERIOUS INSTEAD OF DOING THE RIGHT THING BY JUST GOING AROUND CHECKING EVERY OTHER RIDE. PERMANENTLY CLOSING THE RAGING RIVER RIDE DOESN’T BRING BACK MICHAEL JARAMILLO. I KNOW THIS. I’M BLESSED FOR HAVING HIM FOR 11 YEARS WITH A GUY I WAS ALLOWED TO HAVE. BUT WHAT IT COULD DO, DAVID SAYS, IS HELP OTHER FAMILIES NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME KIND OF PAIN. AND DAVID TELLS ME THE LAWSUIT IS CURRENTLY PENDING. ONE MESSAGE YOU WANT TO GET OUT TO FAMILIES, PARENTS SPECIFICALLY, IS CHERISH THE TI

Father of 11-year-old killed on Adventureland ride speaks up following its closure

Back in 2021, 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo died while on the Raging River with his family. The new owners announced it would permanently shut down.

The Raging River ride in Adventureland in Altoona is now permanently closed. In a letter posted on its website, general manager Bill Lentz wrote the decision comes after months of inspections on the ride and working closely with its manufacturer to figure out what improvements are needed to meet operating standards. Back in 2021, 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo died while on the ride with his family. A raft they were on capsized and Jaramillo drowned. His older brother and father were also injured. "It shouldn't be up there no more," said David Jaramillo Sr., Michael's father. "That thing killed my son." David is adamant in his feelings about Adventureland's Raging River ride. There was a hole in the family when Michael passed. "He was the guy who could make you feel good," David said. "You couldn't feel sad or angry when he's around." However, there was a said the family following Michael's death. For David, there was anger as well at the fact that the ride itself still existed. "By being there, it kind of felt like it was mocking me," David said. He felt that way until Adventureland's general manager penned a letter announcing the closure. "It was that badly neglected from the previous owners," David said. "Why didn't they keep up with it? Why didn't they do what they're supposed to do?" Palace Entertainment purchased Adventureland in late 2021. The previous owners are involved in a lawsuit filed by the Jaramillos, who are seeking nearly $100 million. The lawsuit claims — prior to the incident — that the Iowa Division of Labor should have found 17 safety violations on the ride. "The new owners are taking it serious," David said. "So they're doing the right thing by just going around and checking every other ride." Permanently closing the Raging River ride doesn't bring back Michael. It's a fact the Jaramillos know. "I'm blessed for having the 11 years with him that I was allowed to have," David said. What David believes it could do is help other families not have to go through the same kind of pain.

ALTOONA, Iowa —

The Raging River ride in Adventureland in Altoona is now permanently closed.

In a letter posted on its website, general manager Bill Lentz wrote the decision comes after months of inspections on the ride and working closely with its manufacturer to figure out what improvements are needed to meet operating standards.

Back in 2021, 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo died while on the ride with his family. A raft they were on capsized and Jaramillo drowned. His older brother and father were also injured.

"It shouldn't be up there no more," said David Jaramillo Sr., Michael's father. "That thing killed my son."

David is adamant in his feelings about Adventureland's Raging River ride. There was a hole in the family when Michael passed.

"He was the guy who could make you feel good," David said. "You couldn't feel sad or angry when he's around."

However, there was a said the family following Michael's death.

For David, there was anger as well at the fact that the ride itself still existed.

"By being there, it kind of felt like it was mocking me," David said.

He felt that way until Adventureland's general manager penned a letter announcing the closure.

"It was that badly neglected from the previous owners," David said. "Why didn't they keep up with it? Why didn't they do what they're supposed to do?"

Palace Entertainment purchased Adventureland in late 2021.

The previous owners are involved in a lawsuit filed by the Jaramillos, who are seeking nearly $100 million.

The lawsuit claims — prior to the incident — that the Iowa Division of Labor should have found 17 safety violations on the ride.

"The new owners are taking it serious," David said. "So they're doing the right thing by just going around and checking every other ride."

Permanently closing the Raging River ride doesn't bring back Michael. It's a fact the Jaramillos know.

"I'm blessed for having the 11 years with him that I was allowed to have," David said.

What David believes it could do is help other families not have to go through the same kind of pain.

Father of 11-year-old killed on Adventureland ride speaks up following its closure

Back in 2021, 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo died while on the Raging River with his family. The new owners announced it would permanently shut down.

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