Florida go-kart park ordered to pay hefty settlement after mom and daughter, 6, broke two important rules that resulted in little girl's death

By WILL POTTER, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 13:47, 29 April 2026 | Updated: 13:50, 29 April 2026 Authorities have proposed a Florida go-kart park pay a $300,000 settlement to the state after a six-year-old girl died in a horror crash last year.  The Florida Department of Agriculture suggested the settlement following an investigation into how Emma Riddle, 6, died tragically at Urban Air Adventure Park in Port St Lucie, Florida in December.  The settlement came after the investigation found several safety violations contributed to the crash, including that Riddle was not wearing a seatbelt when she slammed her kart into a side wall.  Investigators said a review of surveillance footage showed the ride operator did not physically check seatbelts before releasing the karts, moments before Riddle crashed. The report also showed the six-year-old was in the driver's seat of her go-kart and her mother was in the passenger seat, despite rules requiring drivers to be at least 18 years old. Drivers are also required to be at least 60 inches tall, but Riddle was just 49 inches tall.  Speed was also found to be a contributing factor, as Riddle's go-kart reached 10.8 miles per hour, higher than the maximum allowed speed of 10 miles per hour on the attraction.   An official with the Department of Agriculture said the Urban Air Adventure Park now has the option to accept the proposed settlement, or reject it and head to a formal administrative hearing, per CBS12.  Riddle was celebrating her sister's birthday when the crash unfolded, and 911 audio showed panicked workers saying the girl 'hit her sternum really hard' and was 'throwing up blood' after the crash.  Emma Riddle, 6, tragically died in December 2025 in a horror go kart crash while celebrating her sister's birthday  Almost six months after the crash, the Florida Department of Agriculture has proposed the Urban Air Adventure Park (pictured) in Port St Lucie pay a $300,000 settlement, alleging a number of safety violations contributed to the crash that killed Riddle  The investigation report also said Urban Air Adventure Park did not have appropriate signage on its track, as signs did not list age or driver requirements and did not meet manufacturer standards.  Investigators said the ride also had inadequate supervision and found that a cell phone was used during the ride against park safety policies.  The Department of Agriculture cited these alleged failings as reasons that the go-kart park should pay a settlement to the state.  The state added that while Urban Air Adventure Park has the right to reject the settlement and request a hearing, it could pursue additional penalties, including fines and permit suspensions, if the settlement does not resolve the case.  The settlement would notably go to state authorities and not to Riddle's family, and serves as a regulatory penalty and is separate from any civil litigation.  It was reported in February that Riddle's family was preparing to file a civil lawsuit against Urban Air Adventure Park, however the status of that lawsuit is unclear. The Daily Mail has contacted the family's attorney for comment.  The settlement proposal comes almost six months after Riddle tragically died following the crash at the go-kart park, while she was celebrating her sister's birthday.  Riddle, seen with her family, was driving the go-kart with her mother in the passenger seat, despite policies stating drivers must be 60 inches tall and at least 18 years old  Emma was described as 'full of life, love and light' by her devastated family  In 911 audio released after the crash, a worker at Urban Air was heard telling a dispatcher the six-year-old was suffering severe injuries.  'She hit her sternum really hard,' the racetrack worker said. She said Riddle was struggling to breathe, adding: 'I don't know if she's throwing up blood or if it's coming from her nose, down her throat... But she keeps trying to throw up.' The concerned-sounding woman said Riddle was alive after the accident but was 'kind of incoherent', and urged the dispatcher: 'I think we need a medic right away.' Appearing to talk to Riddle's mother at the same time, the worker continued: 'She's not talking to me, mom. She's breathing, she's breathing.' The caller then appeared to speak with Riddle as the girl suffered from the crash, telling her: 'It's okay, sweetheart. Remember to stay calm, I got you alright?' Riddle was rushed to hospital in critical condition, and she succumbed to her injuries the next day.  In a GoFundMe set up to support the family, Emma was described as 'full of life, love and light'. 'Though her time with us was far too short, Emma filled every moment with laughter, compassion, and warmth,' the fundraiser read. 'She will forever remain a precious daughter, sister, friend, and a cherished gift from God. 'Forever in our hearts, Emma will continue to shine as the angel she has always been.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.