6-Year-Old Girl’s Family Awarded $205 Million After Fatal Fall from Glenwood Caverns Amusement Park Ride

By Ronald Rodriguez Last updated Sep 24, 2025

Glenwood Springs, CO – In a tragic case that has captured national attention, the family of 6-year-old Wongel Estifanos was awarded $205 million in damages following her death from an amusement park ride at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Colorado. The fatal incident occurred on September 5, 2021, when Wongel fell from the Haunted Mine Drop, prompting a landmark wrongful death lawsuit and subsequent jury verdict.

The decision comes after investigators determined operator errors and ride safety system failures contributed to the young girl’s fall, sparking intense scrutiny over ride safety and corporate responsibility for amusement park attractions.

How the Tragic Event Unfolded

Wongel Estifanos was visiting Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park with her family when she boarded the Haunted Mine Drop ride. Investigations later revealed that Wongel, instead of securing the seat belts properly across her body, was sitting on top of the two seat belts. This improper harnessing caused her to separate from the seat and fall during the 110-foot drop.

The ride’s operator alarm system had initially alerted staff to safety issues and prevented dispatch of the ride. However, following several incorrect steps by newly hired employees, the seatbelt monitors were reset, allowing the ride to proceed despite the unresolved safety concerns.

“The incident was the result of multiple operator errors and violations of the Colorado Amusement Rides and Devices Regulations,” stated investigators from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s Division of Oil and Public Safety.

Wongel suffered numerous fractures, brain injuries, and lacerations following her fall.
Family members experienced horror as they were trapped on the ride, unable to reach her immediately due to the ride design.
The ride operator errors and defective restraint system have been central to legal proceedings.

The Landmark $205 Million Jury Award

On September 19, 2025, a jury in Colorado found the defendants—including Glenwood Caverns Holdings and Soaring Eagle, the ride’s manufacturer—liable for Wongel’s wrongful death. The verdict included:

$82 million in non-economic damages awarded to the Estifanos family.
$123 million in punitive damages aimed at penalizing the defendants for gross negligence.

The enormity of the verdict underscores the severe consequences of inadequate safety measures and procedural failures, while highlighting potential risks to the amusement park’s continued operation.

In an official statement, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park expressed sympathy for the family but also warned of the financial threat the judgment posed to their business and employment in the local community. The park attributed primary fault to Soaring Eagle, accusing the company of manufacturing the ride with a defective restraint system and withholding critical safety information.

“Soaring Eagle certified to Glenwood Caverns that the ride met all applicable standards, but that was not true,” the park said. “They failed to perform the required engineering and risk analyses that would have undoubtedly prevented this death.”

Legal Perspectives and Community Impact

Attorney Dan Caplis, representing Wongel’s family, commented on the significance of the ruling in an interview:

“The whole purpose of the law on punitive damages is ‘Learn the lesson, make the world safer, make sure this never happens again. And that’s been the parents’ quest from day one.”

Mr. Caplis also noted ongoing legal challenges with Soaring Eagle, which reportedly no longer exists as a company. Discussions on further litigation and safety reform are expected to continue as the case develops.

This verdict not only brings a measure of justice to the Estifanos family but also serves as a crucial warning for amusement parks nationwide about the importance of rigorous safety standards and employee training.

Ensuring Safer Amusement Park Experiences

Following the tragedy, Glenwood Caverns has collaborated with independent engineers to redesign and re-engineer the Haunted Mine Drop ride to prevent future accidents, stepping away from the original ride manufacturer’s designs.

Independent safety audits and risk assessments have been implemented.
Increased training programs for ride operators are underway.
Efforts continue to improve ride restraint systems and emergency response protocols.

Experts suggest this case will likely influence stricter regulations and oversight of amusement park rides throughout Colorado and beyond.

For more details on this landmark case and investigation findings, visit PEOPLE’s full report.

What Do You Think?

This tragic incident raises critical questions about amusement park safety and corporate accountability. What do you think about this $205 million verdict? Have you or your family ever experienced concerns at amusement parks? Share your thoughts in the comments below!