The parents of Emma Riddle are suing Urban Air Adventure Parks following the Dec. 6 incident
Credit: GoFundMe; Google Maps
NEED TO KNOW
- The parents of a 6-year-old girl who died after a go-kart crash in Florida last year have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the adventure park where the accident took place
- Emma Riddle’s family claims despite not meeting height and age requirements for the attraction, a park employee allowed her to ride
- Following the incident, state investigators found multiple safety violations at the park leading to a stop operation order for the go-kart track
The parents of a 6-year-old girl who died following a go-kart crash at a Florida adventure park last year are suing the company alleging wrongful death.
On Dec. 6, authorities responded to a call at Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park in Port St. Lucie. The caller had reported a child was injured in a go-kart accident, police previously confirmed to PEOPLE. Audio from the 911 call later released by the Port St. Lucie Police and obtained by PEOPLE revealed the horrific details of the incident.
”She’s breathing, she’s here…but I think we need medics right away,” the caller said.
Credit: GoFundMe
The girl, later identified by her family as Emma Riddle, was airlifted to a hospital and died of her injuries the next day. A GoFundMe was subsequently organized.
Now, seven months later, Emma’s parents, Steve Riddle Jr. and Brenda Horrutinier Montelie, have filed a civil complaint against Urban Air and its parent company Unleashed Brands, alleging wrongful death.
The family claims Montelie was visiting the park on Dec. 6 with Emma to celebrate her eldest daughter’s birthday. As the family approached the go-kart track, an employee reportedly informed them the attraction was closed as the regular operator had left for the evening. Nevertheless, he allegedly decided to re-open the track and operated the ride alone.
Credit: Google Maps
The family further claims the employee failed to ensure Emma met the park’s necessary height and age requirements — pointing to manufacturer specifications, which required riders to be 12 years older and 11 inches taller than Emma. The employee also allegedly failed to provide safety instructions and check to make sure Emma’s seatbelt was properly fastened.
According to the complaint, Emma sat in the driver’s seat of a go-kart with her mother in the passenger seat. At one point, the vehicle allegedly accelerated at a high speed and crashed into a track wall.
“Emma’s go-kart side-swiped the parallel barrier wall and then propelled directly into the sharp 90-degree barrier wall at the end of the lane,” the complaint alleges. “The force of the impact with the 90-degree barrier wall threw Emma Riddle forward into the steering wheel of her go-kart, causing catastrophic and fatal blunt-force injuries.”
The lawsuit further points to an investigative report conducted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that found at least eight violations of Florida Statutes and Administrative Code provisions. The department subsequently issued a stop operation order for the attraction after its findings.
“Emma Riddle was a bright, beautiful 6-year-old girl whose life was tragically cut short,” said John Morgan — the founder of Morgan & Morgan, who is representing the family — in a press release. “What was meant to be a joyful family outing became every family’s worst nightmare. Urban Air has a duty to protect every child that walks through their doors, and we allege that they failed Emma in the most devastating way imaginable.”
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“The evidence in this case is deeply troubling,” attorney Thomas Hasty added in the release. “Our lawsuit alleges that Urban Air’s decisions, in contrast to state laws, manufacturer recommendations, and their own internal policies, led to the dangerous conditions that cost Emma her life. Emma deserved better, and her family deserves accountability and assurances that Urban Air will never put another child at risk in this way again.”
The family is demanding a trial by jury and is seeking damages in excess of $50,000. PEOPLE has reached out to a representative for Urban Air Adventure Parks for comment.
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