Oregon Theme Park Ride Malfunction: Jury Awards Compensation to Victims

In Oregon, emergency crews successfully rescued 30 individuals who were trapped upside down on a malfunctioning ride at Oaks Park, one of the nation’s oldest continuously operating amusement parks.

According to FOX 12 Oregon, a jury awarded $550,000 to two teenage girls who endured nearly 30 minutes suspended upside down due to the malfunction of the AtmosFEAR ride. The jury’s decision, voted on a 10-2 basis this week, granted each teen $275,000 in their claim against Oaks Park and the ride manufacturer, Zamperla.

The incident occurred on June 14, 2024, when 30 riders were stranded on the spinning pendulum-style ride. Portland Fire & Rescue crews arrived on the scene, collaborating with park engineers to manually lower the ride, ensuring the safe descent of the passengers after roughly 25 minutes. All riders underwent medical evaluations after disembarking.

Oaks Park issued a statement following the jury’s verdict to FOX 12: ‘While we agree that the ride should not have become stuck, we are grateful that all of the riders are safe, and this incident is now resolved. Safety is our top priority, and we will continue to work with ride manufacturers and state inspectors to ensure rider safety.’

The lawsuit, filed by the family of one of the teens, Evie, aimed to hold the park accountable. They expressed concern over the park’s lack of a safety plan and inability to address the ride’s mechanical issues without external assistance. Evie’s family noted that Oaks Park lacked the necessary equipment to rectify the inverted position of the ride, requiring first responders to provide crucial tools.

Additionally, Evie’s family highlighted that the park evacuated without establishing traffic control, leading to delays for emergency responders who struggled to access the park promptly.

The ride malfunction occurred on the first day of the park’s summer season, drawing attention as video footage showed the riders suspended vertically while concerned onlookers gathered below.