6-Year-Old Girl Dies in Go-Kart Crash at Florida Adventure Park

A 6-year-old girl has died following a go-kart accident at Urban Air Adventure Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where she was celebrating her sister’s birthday.

According to police and the child’s family, Emma Riddle was riding in a go-kart with an adult Saturday night when another kart collided with them. Park staff immediately called 911, and first responders arrived just before 9 p.m. Emma was airlifted to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, but she passed away from her injuries the following day.

In an obituary, Emma’s family described her as “full of life, love and light,” saying she brightened every life she touched during what was meant to be a joyful family outing. Urban Air released a statement expressing heartbreak over the “tragic accident,” adding that guest safety is their top priority. The facility has temporarily closed as investigations continue.

Port St. Lucie Police detectives are examining the circumstances surrounding the crash, and the medical examiner’s findings are still pending. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services — the agency that oversees go-kart tracks as part of carnival ride regulation — has opened a state investigation. OSHA has also been notified.

A local videographer who previously filmed promotional content for the park claimed to have observed safety issues with the go-karts in the past, including minor crashes and insufficient staff supervision. Stephon Jennings told WPEC that when he learned of the fatality, he immediately suspected the go-kart track. “The news article I saw didn’t say what caused the accident,” he said, “but I commented on it, and I was like, ‘I am 100% sure this has to be a go-kart accident.’”

The park’s parent company has faced lawsuits in previous years related to attraction-related injuries, though details differ by case. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe launched by the family to help cover funeral expenses had raised more than $16,000 as of Wednesday.