Two Oregon teens who were among 28 people left dangling upside down on a broken-down amusement park thrill ride were awarded a combined $550,000 as compensation for the traumatic event.
Xitlali Gomez-Salais and Evie Yannotta, who were just 13 and 14 at the time, both feared they would fall 100 feet to their deaths when they got stuck on the pendulum swing ride AtmosFEAR at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland in June 2024, the Oregonian reported.
Nine people filed lawsuits against the park – with seven people settling, all for different amounts.
A jury ruled Wednesday that Gomez-Salais and Yannotta, both now 16, should be awarded $275,000 each after the pair had sued the park and the ride’s manufacturer Zamperla for $2 million.
During the trial, Yannotta, a Korean martial arts champion, emotionally told jurors she feared the harnesses would be accidentally released.
“Just the highest terror I ever felt,” she said. “There’s nothing like it ever in my life.”
She recounted how a teacher from another school tried to reassure the stranded riders by saying they would be returning home.
“But I knew she didn’t know that,” she said.
She said her pal had bloodshot eyes – seemingly because of the blood that had rushed to their head.
“So many people were throwing up at that point, and I thought I might throw up too,” she said.
Yannotta also claimed that park staffers on the ground were telling customers to leave while riders were stuck in the air.
“I remember thinking that they didn’t want people seeing something that was going to happen — like us falling or us passing out all limp in the harnesses,” she said.
During the civil trial, Gomez-Salais also provided vivid testimony.
“I didn’t want people to see me die,” she said. “It’s hard to be in a position like that, where your friends are underneath you.”
Both girls have since suffered from post-traumatic stress and anxiety, according to the lawsuits seen by KATU.
“I carry my anxiety with me every day,” Gomez-Salais said, while Yannotta said the injuries she sustained stopped her from competing in martial arts events.
“They had to seek counseling, treatment, and medication. Some of them are still afraid to fly on planes,” attorney Michael Fuller, who represented the two girls, said after the verdict.
It still remains unclear what caused the ride to malfunction during its 360-degree cycle.
“We are grateful that all of the riders are safe, and this incident is now resolved,” a park spokesperson told KATU.
“Safety is our top priority and we will continue to work with ride manufacturers and state inspectors to ensure rider safety.”
“We need real answers and not excuses and deflections,” Jaime Gomez, Gomez-Salais’ dad, said after the verdict.
Fuller claimed the theme park had admitted fault.
More than 900,000 people visit Oaks Amusement Park every year — and it opened for its 121st season in March.
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