Crane as tall as Verruckt ready to dismantle deadly Schlitterbahn water slide

A crane as tall as Verruckt rolled in overnight and is now in position to dismantle the water slide where a 10-year-old boy was killed more than two years ago.

A corporate spokeswoman for the Schlitterbahn water park said Friday that work is expected to begin by next Thursday.

“The part of the ride coming down that is most visible to the public should be down in about four weeks, weather permitting,” said Winter Prosapio.

She said Schlitterbahn crews have been working to prepare for the dismantling, but the main work will be done by a contractor, Clarkson Construction Co.

Schlitterbahn is now closed for the season.

The 17-story Verruckt in Kansas City, Kan. — billed as the tallest water slide in the world — has stood as a painful reminder of the Aug. 7, 2016, death of Caleb Schwab, who was killed when the raft he was in went airborne and he struck a metal rod that held a safety net in place. Two women who were also in the raft were injured.

The slide has remained towering toward the sky while investigators prepared a second-degree murder case against Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry and ride designer John Schooley.

A Wyandotte County judge said in August that demolition of Verruckt could proceed after an agreement was reached between the state, which had sought to inspect the slide, and the water park.

Earlier this month, the first criminal trial stemming from the death resulted in the jury’s acquittals of slide maintenance workers David Hughes and John Zalsman, who had been accused of obstructing the investigation.

Caleb’s family received nearly $20 million in settlements.

Schlitterbahn officials have said they wished to remove Verruckt a long time ago.

“We’re just glad to have this day here,” Prosapio said.