Family receives $205 million after 6-year-old girl dies in fall from amusement park ride

The family became aware of the terrifying situation when they noticed the child was missing from her seat

The family of a six-year-old girl who died in 2021 after falling from her rollercoaster seat has been awarded $205 million in their wrongful death lawsuit.

Wongel Estifanos fell to her death from a ride at the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, four years ago.

On September 5, Wongel and her family were visiting the park when, according to the family's lawsuit, the six-year-old's uncle took her, his children, wife, and another relative onto the 'Haunted Mine Drop'.

The complaint, acquired by PEOPLE, states that 'when the ride stopped at the bottom of the mine shaft, Wongel's uncle checked to see if she had enjoyed it', and to his shock, he found she was not in her seat but at the bottom of the mine shaft.

It further states: "Wongel had fallen to her death, sustaining numerous fractures, brain injuries, and internal and external lacerations. As Wongel's uncle and other relatives on the ride screamed in horror and tried to get out to reach her, the ride would not release them and instead pulled them 110 feet back up to the top of the mine shaft."

Wongel Estifanos fell from the ride while it was in motion, and her family was also present.

An investigation by the Colorado Department of Labour and Employment's Division of Oil and Public Safety revealed that the incident occurred due to 'multiple operator errors' and 'violations of the Colorado Amusement Rides and Devices Regulations,' with enforcement actions to follow.

Investigators reported that Wongel was not properly secured, leading to her separation from the ride during its 110ft drop. It was also noted that employees, hired two months earlier, made several mistakes and reset the ride's seatbelt monitors, allowing the ride to proceed.

The complaint also referenced a Colorado state investigators' report, which stated that Wongel was sitting on top of her two seatbelts intended to secure her.

Wongel's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit on September 19, 2022. According to a report by the Denver Post, the jury found the defendants named in the lawsuit, Glenwood Caverns Holdings, the park’s parent company, and Soaring Eagle, the ride's designer, liable for $82 million in non-economic damages and $123 million in punitive damages to the Estifanos family.

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park commented on the verdict to PEOPLE.

The event took place on the Haunted Mine Drop at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

The statement read: “Our sympathies are with the family of Wongel Estifanos and all those affected by the tragic incident on September 5, 2021.”

“Although the jury placed substantial blame on the other defendant, Soaring Eagle, Inc., the magnitude of the total jury verdict poses a serious threat to the future of Glenwood Caverns. If the verdict stands, numerous local jobs are at risk.”

The park further claimed that Soaring Eagle failed to ensure their ride complied with the relevant standards.

The statement continued: “Soaring Eagle assured Glenwood Caverns that the ride adhered to all applicable standards, but this was inaccurate.”

"They neglected to conduct the necessary engineering and risk assessments that could have undoubtedly prevented this fatality. Furthermore, Soaring Eagle was aware of two previous ejections from this same restraint design—information they concealed from the public.”

"Glenwood Caverns was deeply affected by this accident and collaborated with independent engineers (not Soaring Eagle) to redesign and re-engineer the ride to ensure such an incident never occurs again."

In 2022, the park announced several modifications to the Haunted Mine Drop, as reported by CBS News.

UNILAD has reached out to Soaring Eagle for a response.