Aitken Redesign

PRESS RELEASE:

Tyler Kanarr, a twenty-five-year old resident of Huntington Beach and the son of Gregg Warren and Kimberlee Kanarr, died of massive injuries he suffered at VANS® Skate park. On February 25, 2020, Tyler Kanarr was riding his bicycle at the VANS® Skate park in Orange when he impacted a ceiling light which shattered and severed his neck. This devastating incident is the subject of a major legal action filed today by Tyler’s parents. Tyler’s father, Gregg Warren, is represented by Casey R. Johnson of Aitken * Aitken * Cohn with offices in Santa Ana and Riverside. Tyler’s mother is represented by Ted B. Wacker of the Law Offices of Ted B. Wacker in Newport Beach.

Tyler, a very seasoned bicycle rider, was completing a jump off of a ramp within the skate park, when he impacted a ceiling light fixture/bulb. The bulb shattered, severing Tyler’s neck, including both his right carotid artery and right internal jugular vein. Despite the life-saving efforts of Good Samaritan bystanders and emergency responders, Tyler was declared dead in the early morning hours of February 26, 2020, having bled to death (exsanguination).

This tragedy could and should have been avoided:

• Tyler Kanarr was properly using the bicycle ramp at the VANS® Skate park at the time of the incident;
• Tyler Kanarr was using the bicycle ramp as it was designed to be used;
• Eyewitnesses confirmed that Tyler Kanarr was riding his bicycle in a normal manner;
• No barriers were in place to prevent Tyler Kanarr from using the bicycle ramp;
• No warnings were ever provided to Tyler Kanarr (or any of the other VANS® Skate park users), to warn them against using the bicycle ramp
• The light that shattered was unreasonably close to the ramp, unguarded and not constructed with shatterproof glass;
• Following the collision, VANS® closed the Skate park. It remains closed.

Tyler Kanarr was a tender-hearted, fun-loving young man, who had an extraordinary ability to connect with people and had a real love of life. He enjoyed physical activities and counted bicycle riding among his greatest passions. Tyler was the only child of both Gregg Warren and Kimberlee Kanarr.

Since Tyler’s death, his parents have committed to seeing the matter through to ensure that no other family has to suffer the loss of a child due to a dangerous skate park. “One of Tyler’s greatest joys was bicycle riding, and he was doing what he loved most in what he thought was a safe environment” Tyler’s father, Gregg Warren shares. “Unless changes are made at the skate park, this tragedy will repeat itself. The purpose of this lawsuit is to prevent something like this from happening again” confirms Tyler’s mother, Kimberlee Kanarr.

A copy of the Complaint filed in this action is included herewith. For further information contact Casey R. Johnson of Aitken * Aitken * Cohn: 3 MacArthur Place, Suite 800, Santa Ana, CA 92707; (714) 434-1424, casey@aitkenlaw.com; or Ted B. Wacker of Law Offices of Ted B. Wacker, 1000 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach, CA 92660; (949) 706-7100, twacker@tbwlawfirm.com.