Oregon Theme Park Riders Rescued After Being Stuck Upside Down

Emergency crews in Oregon rescued 30 people trapped upside down on a ride at Oaks Park, one of the oldest amusement parks in the nation. A jury awarded $550,000 to two teenage girls who were left hanging for nearly 30 minutes when a ride malfunctioned at the park.

The jury voted 10-2 to award the teens $275,000 each in their legal case against Oaks Park and ride manufacturer Zamperla over the incident involving the AtmosFEAR ride on June 14, 2024. The spinning pendulum-style ride became stuck in a vertical position, leaving riders suspended upside down.

Portland Fire & Rescue worked with park engineers to manually lower the ride and safely bring down the riders after about 25 minutes. They were then medically evaluated. Oaks Park issued a statement saying they agree the ride should not have become stuck but expressed gratitude that all riders were safe. The park emphasized its commitment to safety and cooperation with ride manufacturers and state inspectors.

“While we agree that the ride should not have become stuck, we are grateful that all of the riders are safe, and this incident is now resolved,” the statement read. “Safety is our top priority, and we will continue to work with ride manufacturers and state inspectors to ensure rider safety.”

The family of one of the teens stated that the lawsuit aimed to seek accountability, criticizing the park for lacking a safety plan. They pointed out that park officials did not have tools or knowledge to address the malfunction efficiently, necessitating a call to a 1-800 number and waiting for first responders to bring a required tool.

The malfunction coincided with the park’s first day of the summer season, and video footage showed riders stuck in a vertical position as observers gathered below. A spokesperson for Zamperla and Oaks Park did not respond to requests for comment.