Emergency crews in Oregon successfully rescued 30 individuals who were trapped upside down on a ride at Oaks Park, one of the nation’s oldest amusement parks. Reports state that a jury awarded $550,000 to two teens who were left hanging upside down for nearly half an hour due to a malfunction of the AtmosFEAR ride in Portland.

This week, a 10-2 jury decision awarded each teenager $275,000 in their case against Oaks Park and ride manufacturer, Zamperla. The malfunction happened on June 14, 2024, when the spinning pendulum-style ride became stuck in a vertical position. The Portland Fire & Rescue team worked with park engineers to manually lower the ride, bringing the riders down safely after approximately 25 minutes. All the riders underwent medical evaluation immediately afterward.

Oaks Park expressed relief that everyone involved was safe, asserting that safety remains their highest priority. The park continues to collaborate with ride manufacturers and state inspectors to ensure safety standards are upheld.

The family of one of the affected teens, Evie, stated that the lawsuit aimed for accountability. They emphasized that besides the ride malfunction, the situation worsened due to the park’s lack of a safety plan or tools to address such incidents.

According to officials, employees at the scene had limited knowledge of repairing the situation, which required a call to a 1-800 number for instructions. The absence of on-site tools for reversing the ride’s position meant waiting for first responders who supplied the necessary equipment. Additionally, the evacuation of the park without managing traffic hindered their prompt access, extending the ordeal.

The incident marked the first day of Oaks Park’s summer season. Video footage showed riders suspended as onlookers gathered below.

A representative for both Zamperla and Oaks Park did not immediately respond to requests for comments.