Two teenage girls have been awarded $550,000 in total after a jury found that a malfunctioning amusement park ride caused them psychological and physical trauma. The payout came after Xitlali Gomez-Salais and Evie Yannotta, then 13 and 14, sued Oaks Amusement Park and its distributor, Zamperla Inc., for $2 million.
On Wednesday, a Multnomah County jury awarded each girl $275,000. The incident occurred in June 2024 when the girls were riding AtmosFEAR, described by the park as an "extreme attraction," which became stuck in its highest position, leaving riders upside down for approximately 25 minutes.
Witnesses reported that belongings from the 28 riders rained down from the 100-foot height. The lawsuit filings described riders as "screaming for their lives, throwing up, crying, passing out, and praying to God." The ride was eventually lowered by Oaks Park Maintenance Director Tom Childs, who used a rescue bar.
Gomez-Salais and Yannotta recounted feeling blood pooling in their heads and faces, difficulty breathing, and the fear that their harnesses might fail. Gomez-Salais reported post-traumatic stress, chest pain, and emotional distress, while Yannotta described the experience as "the highest terror I ever felt."
After three days of trial, the 10-2 jury decision awarded the teens a quarter of the $2 million they sought. Initially, Oaks Park and Zamperla Inc. blamed each other for the malfunction. The park contended that Zamperla should have ensured the ride met safety standards, while Zamperla argued the park failed to properly maintain and operate the ride. Both companies ultimately agreed that the ride malfunctioned and that the incident was unforeseeable.
Companies involved in the incident intend to settle internal disputes regarding fault outside of the current legal proceedings. The lawsuit brought by Gomez-Salais and Yannotta is one of nine filed against Oaks Park by riders who experienced psychological or physical trauma. Six of those cases have since been settled.