A Florida family has filed a lawsuit against an indoor adventure park in Port St. Lucie, alleging that ignored safety protocols led to the death of their 6-year-old daughter last December.
According to the lawsuit, filed in Broward County Circuit Court, Emma Riddle was at the park celebrating her older sister’s birthday on the night of December 6 when the family decided to ride the go-karts. The suit claims the track’s usual second operator had already left for the night, but an employee reopened the ride and chose to run it alone, despite manufacturer rules requiring two staff members — one to monitor the track and one to screen riders for eligibility.
The lawsuit alleges Emma was allowed to drive despite falling short of the required height and age set by the go-kart manufacturer. It also claims signage at the park listing rider requirements was inaccurate. Emma’s mother, riding beside her in the passenger seat, was reportedly unable to secure the seat belt across them before the ride began.
Per standard procedure, new drivers are supposed to get roughly a minute at a slow pace to adjust before reaching full speed. The suit alleges this step was skipped, and the karts were allowed to hit their top speed of 10 mph almost immediately. Emma’s kart struck a barrier, then collided with a wall, and she was thrown into the steering wheel. She was rushed to a hospital, where she later died of blunt-force trauma.
The family’s attorneys say the case reflects a pattern of decisions that contradicted state regulations, manufacturer guidelines, and the park’s own internal safety policies.
Emma’s mother, Brenda Horrutinier, described her daughter in a fundraising post as a joyful child who “touched every soul she met” and left behind a legacy of warmth despite her short life.
The family is seeking accountability and changes to prevent similar incidents from happening to other children at the park in the future.