Source: Boy decapitated on waterslide at Kansas park

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The 10-year-old boy killed during a ride on the world's tallest waterslide was decapitated in the accident, a person familiar with the investigation said Wednesday. Authorities have yet to explain how it happened.

The person was speaking on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about the death Sunday of Caleb Schwab on the "Verruckt" raft ride at the Schlitterbahn WaterPark in Kansas City, Kansas.

Two women who are not family members also were in the raft at the time and were treated for facial injuries. The boy's parents -- Republican state Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife, Michele -- have not spoken publicly since the death. His funeral is scheduled for Friday.

Verruckt -- which in German means "insane" -- featured multi-person rafts that make a 168-foot drop at speeds of up to 70 mph, followed by a surge up a hump and a 50-foot descent to a finishing pool.

Since the accident, investigators have removed netting held in place by supports above the 50-foot section from the hump to the finishing pool.

Thomas SchwabCaleb

Riders, who must be at least 54 inches tall, were harnessed with two nylon seatbelt-like straps -- one that crossed the rider's lap, the other stretching diagonally like a car shoulder seatbelt. Each strap was held in place by long Velcro-style straps, not by buckles. Riders would hold ropes inside the raft.

The park reopened Wednesday except for a large section that includes the waterslide, although its towering profile greeted visitors when they drove through the entrance.