Oregon Theme Park Ride Malfunction Leads to $550,000 Award for Teens

Emergency crews in Oregon rescued 30 people trapped upside down on a ride at Oaks Park. This amusement park is one of the oldest continually operating parks in the United States. A jury awarded $550,000 to two teenage girls who were left hanging upside down for nearly 30 minutes due to the ride’s malfunction.

The jury voted 10-2 to award the teens $275,000 each. Their case was against Oaks Park and the ride manufacturer, Zamperla. The malfunction occurred on the AtmosFEAR ride in Portland in June 2024.

On June 14, 2024, about 30 riders were stuck upside down when a spinning pendulum-style ride was trapped in a vertical position. Portland Fire & Rescue teams collaborated with park engineers to manually lower the ride. After approximately 25 minutes, the riders were safely brought down and medically checked.

Oaks Park released a statement expressing relief that all riders were safe and the incident was resolved. They emphasized safety as their top priority and promised to continue engaging with ride manufacturers and state inspectors to ensure safety standards.

The lawsuit aimed to establish responsibility. The family of one of the teens, identified as Evie, stated that the ride’s malfunction and lack of a safety plan at Oaks Park prompted their legal action.

The malfunction was worsened by the absence of a plan to deal with such crises. Criticism was directed at the park for the lack of knowledge on fixing the ride when inverted and the absence of necessary tools on site. Instead, a 1-800 number had to be called to find a solution, delaying rescue operations.

Additionally, when Oaks Park evacuated, they did not manage traffic effectively. This obstruction delayed emergency personnel from accessing the park swiftly, increasing the duration of distress for the riders. The malfunction occurred on the park’s first day of the summer season. Footage showed riders hanging precariously as onlookers gathered below.