Colorado jury awards $205 million to parents of girl who died on Glenwood Caverns ride
Jury finds park, ride maker and two operators liable in 2021 death of Wongel Estifanos; park to pay the largest share
A Colorado jury awarded $205 million to the parents of a 6-year-old girl who fell to her death on the Haunted Mine Drop ride at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in 2021. The verdict, announced Friday in Glenwood Springs, found the park, the ride's maker and two operators liable for the death of Wongel Estifanos, who fell about 100 feet (30 meters) after the floor dropped from beneath her seat.
State investigators said Estifanos was seated on top of two seat belts rather than wearing them across her lap, and two newly hired operators did not notice during routine checks. Investigators also found that an alarm system warned of a problem, but one of the workers reset the alarm and started the ride because the staff weren’t adequately trained to know how to respond.
Jurors found the amusement park, the ride's maker and the two operators liable for the verdict, with the park responsible for paying the largest share of the award.
Kimberly Marcum, a spokesperson for Glenwood Caverns, said the park worked with independent engineers to redesign the Haunted Mine Drop after Estifanos' death and that the verdict puts the park's existence "at serious risk." Marcum did not immediately respond to requests for comment about whether the park planned to appeal.
The case draws renewed attention to safety protocols on thrill rides and the importance of proper restraints, staff training and alarm protocols in amusement settings.