Uber is launching a pilot program in the US allowing drivers to perform microtasks like voice recording and image uploading to help train AI models, while also introducing app improvements such as better trip offer cards, a high-demand heatmap, and enhanced safety features for drivers and riders, all as part of its effort to build a more flexible and fair platform for gig workers.
A woman has filed a lawsuit claiming she was injured on the Stardust Racers ride at Universal's Epic Universe, the same ride where a man was found unresponsive and later died from blunt impact injuries. The lawsuit alleges improper restraint and safety concerns, while Universal states the ride was functioning properly. An investigation into the man's death is ongoing, and the case highlights safety issues at the theme park.
A child was injured on a ride at the Illinois State Fair after an object detached from another ride and hit the child's leg. The incident occurred on the same day that rides were inspected for safety following storms and rain in the area. The child received treatment on the scene and the ride was temporarily closed. After repairs and re-inspection by the chief ride inspector, the ride was cleared to operate again. State fair officials have stated that they have no safety concerns following the incident.
An Illinois carnival in Antioch was shut down after a 10-year-old child was apparently thrown from a ride, resulting in injuries. The child was airlifted to a nearby hospital, and their condition is currently unknown. Antioch Mayor Scott Gartner closed down the remaining rides at the carnival, emphasizing the need for safety and expressing concern for the child and their family. The incident is under investigation by the Illinois Department of Labor, police, and fire departments.
The carnival at Antioch's Taste of Summer festival was closed after a 10-year-old child was thrown from a ride and injured. The child was airlifted to a hospital, and the festival's rides were shut down for safety reasons. The Illinois Department of Labor is investigating the incident.
The FreeFall ride at ICON Park in Orlando, which was certified by a state inspector just 15 months ago, is being removed after the death of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson. Cell phone video of the fatal fall showed that the ride should have been stopped for a safety check, but instead, it continued up until approximately two and a half minutes into the ride cycle. Tyre weighed nearly 100 pounds more than should have been allowed on the ride, and the harness on the seat he was sitting in had been adjusted wider by seven inches. The ride owner has paid a $250,000 fine, and the family has settled their lawsuit while continuing to sue the ride makers.
The mother of Tyre Sampson, who died after falling off the Orlando FreeFall drop tower ride last year, visited the amusement park as the ride was dismantled. The ride had been closed since the incident, and an investigation found that Tyre was not properly secured in his seat due to a "mis-adjustment" of his harness proximity sensor. The family has settled their lawsuit against ICON Park and Slingshot, but not against the foreign manufacturers. They have also introduced the "Tyre Sampson Act" to require additional safety requirements for permanent amusement rides in Florida. The Orange County Sheriff's Office is still investigating whether anyone will be held criminally responsible for the incident.