Two teenage girls in the United States endured a harrowing 25-minute ordeal after becoming trapped upside down on the AtmosFEAR ride at Oaks Amusement Park in southeast Portland, Oregon. The incident occurred on June 14, 2024—the park’s first day of operation for the season—when the rotating ride suddenly stopped mid-cycle at a height of approximately 30 meters.
A Terrifying Standstill
At the time, 13-year-old Citlali Gomez-Salais and 14-year-old Evy Yanota were celebrating the end of the school year with friends. They boarded AtmosFEAR—a high-speed, 360-degree spinning attraction manufactured by Italian firm Zamperla—unaware it would become the source of lasting trauma. When the ride froze with riders inverted, both girls found themselves hanging head-down, blood rushing to their heads, unable to move or escape.
They remained suspended in that position for a full 25 minutes while emergency responders worked to safely extract them. During the subsequent trial, both described overwhelming fear—not only of physical injury but of dying in plain sight. ‘I didn’t want people to watch me die,’ Citlali said, visibly emotional during her testimony. Evy recalled thinking, ‘We might not have much time left.’ Others on the ride reportedly suffered nausea and panic attacks amid the mounting pressure and disorientation.
Legal Outcome and Settlement
Approximately 30 people were aboard AtmosFEAR when it malfunctioned. Nine filed lawsuits against Oaks Park and Zamperla, though seven settled out of court under confidential terms. Citlali and Evy chose to pursue litigation, seeking $2 million in damages for physical harm, psychological distress, and long-term emotional impact.
The court ultimately awarded each girl $275,000—$550,000 total—after both parties acknowledged responsibility for the ride’s failure. Experts testified that uneven passenger weight distribution should have prevented a full 360-degree rotation, indicating a critical flaw in operational safeguards. While the defendants conceded fault, their attorneys argued the girls’ injuries were not permanent and that both had resumed normal daily activities.
The case underscores ongoing concerns about ride safety protocols at amusement parks across the U.S., especially during seasonal reopenings when mechanical systems undergo renewed stress.