Port St. Lucie, Florida — The parents of a 6-year-old girl who died after a devastating go-kart crash at a Florida adventure park have filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging that multiple safety failures and negligent decisions led to the tragedy.
The lawsuit, filed by Steve Riddle Jr. and Brenda Horrutinier Montelie, names Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park and its parent company, Unleashed Brands, claiming their daughter, Emma Riddle, should never have been allowed to ride the attraction under the circumstances described in the complaint.
Emma died one day after suffering catastrophic injuries during the incident on December 6, turning what was supposed to be a family celebration into an unimaginable loss.
Lawsuit Claims Ride Should Not Have Been Operating
According to the civil complaint, Montelie had taken Emma to the Port St. Lucie park to celebrate her oldest daughter’s birthday.
The family alleges that when they arrived at the go-kart attraction, an employee initially informed them the ride had already closed because its regular operator had gone home for the evening.
However, the lawsuit claims the employee later decided to reopen the attraction and operated the ride alone.
The complaint further alleges the employee failed to verify that Emma met the required age and height restrictions, despite manufacturer guidelines reportedly requiring riders to be at least 12 years old and approximately 11 inches taller than Emma.
The lawsuit also alleges that safety procedures were not properly followed before the ride began.
Complaint Alleges Multiple Safety Failures
According to the complaint, Emma was seated in the driver’s position while her mother rode in the passenger seat. At some point during the ride, the go-kart allegedly accelerated before crashing into a barrier wall.
The lawsuit describes the collision in detail.
“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.”
Emma was airlifted to a nearby hospital after the crash but died from her injuries the following day.
Earlier 911 audio released by authorities captured the urgency of the emergency response.
“She’s breathing, she’s here…but I think we need medics right away,” the caller said.
State Investigation Found Multiple Violations
The lawsuit also references findings from an investigation by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which reportedly identified at least eight violations of Florida statutes and administrative regulations related to the attraction.
Following the investigation, the department issued a stop-operation order for the go-kart ride.
The family argues those findings support their claims that proper safety standards were not followed.
Family Seeks Accountability After Child’s Death
Attorneys representing Emma’s family say the lawsuit is about more than financial compensation—it is also aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future.
“Emma Riddle was a bright, beautiful 6-year-old girl whose life was tragically cut short,” said attorney John Morgan. “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.”
Attorney Thomas Hasty also addressed the allegations.
“The evidence in this case is deeply troubling. 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 requesting a jury trial and seeking damages exceeding $50,000 as the civil case moves forward.
What are your thoughts on this heartbreaking case? Do you believe amusement parks should face stricter oversight when it comes to children’s safety? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
