A jury in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, has determined that a local theme park is responsible for the tragic death of a 6-year-old girl who fell while on one of its rides. The civil lawsuit, initiated by the family of Wongel Estifanos in 2022, concluded with a verdict delivered on Friday.
Wongel Estifanos died in September 2021 while on the Haunted Mine Drop ride at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. According to the family’s attorney, the jury awarded $205 million, marking one of the largest wrongful death settlements for an individual plaintiff in Colorado’s history. The award will be distributed among the park and other accountable parties.
Attorney Dan Caplis expressed the family’s gratitude, stating that the verdict would likely save lives in the future. Wongel’s parents were appreciative of the jury’s decision and the support they received throughout the trial from the local community.
The trial, held throughout the month, revealed that the accident involved significant operator errors, including the failure to properly secure Wongel in her seat. Reports indicate she fell over 100 feet because she had not been properly restrained, sitting on top of the seatbelt in an unoccupied seat.
Investigators noted prior complaints from visitors regarding improper restraint practices by park operators. The lawsuit claimed that Glenwood Caverns failed to disclose these customer complaints about the ride leading up to Wongel’s death. In light of these findings, the park announced plans to implement multiple changes to the ride in 2022.
Kimberly Marcum, marketing director for Glenwood Caverns, called the incident unprecedentedly tragic. She pointed out that while the jury allocated much of the fault to Soaring Eagle, Inc., a co-defendant in the case, the award poses a substantial threat to the park’s future operations and local employment. Marcum remarked that they are exploring all available options to continue serving guests and contributing to the community.
In her statement, Marcum criticized Soaring Eagle, a Utah-based ride manufacturer, for providing what she described as a “defective restraint system” that contributed to the mishap. She claimed that although Soaring Eagle assured Glenwood Caverns that the ride complied with all safety standards, this certification was misleading, alleging that necessary engineering analyses were not conducted.
A representative from Soaring Eagle, Inc. could not be reached for comment following the verdict.
This case has sparked significant concern regarding safety practices at amusement parks, prompting calls for greater scrutiny and regulatory measures to ensure the protection of visitors.
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