Oregon Amusement Park Blames Ride Manufacturer for Nightmare Incident

An Oregon amusement park is seeking damages from the manufacturer of a ride that malfunctioned, stranding riders upside down for nearly 30 minutes. The incident, which occurred in June, has led to lawsuits alleging negligence and safety violations.

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Oregon Amusement Park Blames Ride Manufacturer for Nightmare Incident

An Oregon amusement park is passing the blame to the ride manufacturer after a topsy-turvy ride malfunctioned earlier this year, stranding two dozen riders who were left hanging upside down for roughly 30 minutes.

The lawsuit, filed by Oaks Park in Portland, alleges that Zamperla, the Italian manufacturer and installer of the ride, is "negligent and responsible" for the incident and liable for all losses, costs, and attorney fees associated with the incident.

Oregon Amusement Park Blames Ride Manufacturer for Nightmare Incident

The lawsuit claims that Zamperla failed to keep the ride safe and did not have the proper tools or procedures to fix or maintain it.

The incident occurred on the park's first day of opening for the summer. Officials said that approximately 30 people were stuck upside-down on the "AtmosFEAR" ride until help arrived.

Oregon Amusement Park Blames Ride Manufacturer for Nightmare Incident

Video footage showed the dozens of riders stuck vertically upside down on the ride, with park patrons gathered around the base expressing concern.

Park engineers and fire officials worked together to "manually lower" the ride, and 30 minutes later, riders were back on stable ground and medically evaluated.

Oregon Amusement Park Blames Ride Manufacturer for Nightmare Incident

The incident has also led to a separate lawsuit filed by Amy Yannotta, a mother whose 14-year-old daughter was trapped on the ride. Yannotta claims that her daughter experienced physical and psychological injuries as a result of the malfunction.

In her lawsuit, Yannotta alleges that her daughter experienced abrasions, soreness, body aches, and increased blood flow to the brain, causing intracranial pressure, dizziness, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, and ongoing post-traumatic stress and anxiety.

The mother initially sought up to $125,000 for negligence, but has since amended the amount to $345,000 for damages.

Oaks Park officials and Zamperla did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuits.

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of amusement park rides and the importance of proper maintenance and inspection procedures.

Oaks Park is Oregon's oldest existing amusement park and is located just 3.5 miles from downtown Portland. The park is home to a variety of rides and attractions, including the "AtmosFEAR" ride, which is a spinning pendulum-style ride.