2 Teenagers Awarded $275,000 After They Were Trapped Upside Down on Amusement Park Ride

Two teenagers, Xitlali Gomez-Salais and Evie Yannotta, who were trapped on an upside down ride at Oaks Amusement Park in June 2024 have been awarded $275,000 each.

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Two teenagers who were trapped on an upside down amusement park ride in June 2024 have been awarded $275,000 each

Xitlali Gomez-Salais and Evie Yannotta sued Oaks Amusement Park after being trapped on the AtmosFEAR ride with 26 others for about 25 minutes

“All these families ever wanted was accountability and civil justice,” attorney Michael Fuller told PEOPLE

Two teenagers who were trapped upside down on an amusement park ride have been awarded a large sum after suing the park.

Xitlali Gomez-Salais and Evie Yannotta were stuck on the AtmosFEAR ride at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland, Ore. on June 14, 2025 with 26 others. They filed suit against the park and were each awarded $275,000 by a Multnomah County jury in an Aug. 19 verdict, per NBC 16.

The complaint alleged that the ride stopped while the riders were upside down about 50 feet above the ground for more than 25 minutes.

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Oaks Amusement Park released a statement on the day of the incident, stating that the ride stopped around 2:55 p.m. local time and Portland Fire & Rescue didn’t arrive until about 25 minutes later. Afterward, it took minutes for all of the riders to be removed from the ride.

The lawsuit states that during the incident, riders screamed, cried, vomited and passed out, per NBC 16.

Gomez-Salais and Yannotta, who were 13 and 14 at the time, claimed that the incident affected them physically and emotionally. Gomez-Salais had experienced chest pain, panic, weakness, and insomnia, per her complaint. Yannotta said she had abrasions, soreness, body aches, dizziness, increased heart rate and blood pressure.

Both girls experience ongoing post-traumatic stress and anxiety, per their filing.

Yannotta recalled the incident in front of the jury, per the New York Post, stating it was “the highest terror I ever felt. There’s nothing like it ever in my life.”

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The complaints accused Oaks Amusement Park of negligence, alleging that the park did not safely maintain and operate the ride, lacked the tools for a quick repair and did not thoroughly warn riders of potential dangers. They also claim the amusement park did not keep riders fully information about what was happening during the incident.

Oaks Amusement Park later filed a lawsuit against ride manufacturer Zamperla, per KGW 8.

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The teens were represented by attorney Michael Fuller, who told NBC 16 that the two companies will decide who is responsible for the payments.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Fuller claimed that Oaks Amusement Park and Zamperla denied liability for two years before admitting fault a week before the trial was set to begin. “My clients didn’t deserve what happened to them and they are grateful for the jury’s verdict. All these families ever wanted was accountability and civil justice,” he said.

Oaks Amusement Park said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE, “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. Safety is our top priority, and we will continue to work with ride manufacturers and state inspectors to ensure rider safety.”

Seven other riders involved in the incident have reached settlements, per NBC 16.

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