Family of girl killed after go-kart crash retains law firm, alleges ‘mechanical failures’
By Allen Cone
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PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida (WPBF) — The family of a 6-year-old girl who died after a go-kart crash last weekend has retained the Morgan & Morgan law firm, which alleges several go-karts had “mechanical failures.”
Emma Riddle died from injuries sustained while riding the electric go-kart at Urban Air Adventure Park at 9020 South U.S. Highway 1 in Port St. Lucie.
A memorial service for Riddle took place at 10 a.m. at the Calvary Chapel on Northwest St. James Drive in Port St. Lucie. The public was invited to attend.
“Emma was a beautiful little girl with a bright future and so much love left to give,” the law office said. “We ask for privacy as her family grieves this tremendous loss.”
On Saturday night, she was airlifted to HCA Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce for medical care. On Sunday, the Port St. Lucie Police Department said it was notified that the child died from her injuries.
“We have been hired by Emma Riddle’s family to find out how this unimaginable tragedy happened and what could have been done to prevent it,” founder John Morgan and attorney Thomas Hasty said in a statement Friday about their clients, Brenda and Steve Riddle. “There has been a lot of confusion and misinformation in the media about the events that occurred on Dec 6. Based on our initial investigation, we believe that there were mechanical failures in several go-karts that were on the track at the time of Emma’s crash.”
The law firm issued an updated statement after a preliminary report released by the police department that she was reported to not be wearing a seatbelt.
“The go-kart had a seatbelt but our clients alleged that they were locked and inoperable and would not release,” the statement read. “Nonetheless, the ride operator allegedly activated their kart and allowed it to leave the starting line.”
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