The first family vacation since the pandemic began ended in unimaginable tragedy for the Estifanos family. Six-year-old Wongel Estifanos, accompanied by her uncle, aunt, and cousins, boarded the Haunted Mine Drop ride at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Colorado last September. As the ride platform plummeted 110 feet, Wongel, unrestrained, fell to her death, prompting a lawsuit filed by her grieving parents against the park.
Wongel Estifanos, pictured center with her parents, tragically lost her life on an amusement park ride.
The lawsuit paints a horrifying picture of the moments after the ride reached the bottom of the shaft. Wongel’s uncle, anticipating her excitement, looked over only to discover her absent from her seat. His gaze fell upon her lifeless body at the base of the shaft. As family members on the ride screamed in terror and attempted to exit, the ride mechanism, according to the lawsuit, pulled them back to the top, delaying their desperate attempts to reach Wongel.
The lawsuit accuses Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park of reckless conduct, alleging inadequate training of ride operators despite previous seat belt-related incidents. This negligence, the suit claims, directly led to Wongel’s tragic death on September 5th.
The Haunted Mine Drop ride at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, where the fatal accident occurred.
A state investigation corroborated the family’s claims, concluding that multiple operator errors contributed to the tragedy. The report revealed that Wongel was sitting on top of two seat belts rather than having them properly secured across her lap. Two newly hired operators, it was found, failed to detect this critical oversight during their pre-ride checks. Furthermore, an alarm system, designed to alert operators to potential issues, was reportedly dismissed and reset by an untrained operator, who lacked the knowledge to interpret its significance.
The lawsuit further alleges that the park withheld information about two prior complaints, dating back to 2018 and 2019, regarding passengers not being properly secured in the ride. These complaints, according to state investigators, were not disclosed during the investigation.
While park officials declined to comment on the pending litigation, citing legal protocol, they expressed condolences to the Estifanos family. “Our hearts go out to the Estifanos family and those impacted by their loss,” their statement read.
The family’s attorney, Dan Caplis, emphasized that the lawsuit is not solely about seeking justice for Wongel. It is also about uncovering the full truth and ensuring such a tragedy never happens again. “Their mission is to protect other families by holding all who are responsible for the killing of their daughter fully accountable, and by sending a loud and clear message to the entire amusement park industry,” Caplis stated.
The case raises critical questions about amusement park safety regulations and oversight. The family’s pursuit of accountability seeks to bring about meaningful change within the industry, aiming to prevent future tragedies and ensure that amusement park visits remain occasions of joy, not heartbreak. The legal proceedings will undoubtedly delve deeper into the park’s safety protocols, operator training practices, and the circumstances surrounding the previous complaints, all in an effort to determine the extent of their responsibility in Wongel’s untimely death. The outcome of this case will likely have significant implications for amusement park safety standards and could lead to more stringent regulations to better protect park visitors in the future. The Estifanos family’s fight for justice serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of vigilance and accountability in ensuring the safety of all who seek leisure and entertainment.
