PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A 6-year-old girl is dead following a go-karting incident at the Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park in Port St. Lucie over the weekend, the Port St. Lucie Police Department confirmed.
Police were dispatched to the incident on Saturday at around 8:51 p.m. and the child was airlifted to HCA Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce.
The child was riding with an adult when their go-kart was struck by another go-kart, according to Port St. Lucie police.
Authorities say the girl died from her injuries on Sunday. The incident has prompted state and federal investigations into the popular family entertainment venue.
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park has remained closed since the incident as investigators work to determine what caused the fatal collision.
State inspectors from the Florida Department of Agriculture arrived at the facility Monday, and federal investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have also been called in to examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The investigation comes amid questions about the safety conditions at the go-kart track. Stephon Jennings, who describes himself as an experienced go-kart racer, shared video he recorded at the Urban Air track in October showing what he says are safety concerns.
"It's pretty much like a just a free-for-all," Jennings said.
The video shows go-karts with worn tires that appear to have poor traction on the track surface.
"These tires, they're completely worn out, man. They're not gripping anything, they're literally just scrubbing the floor, and as soon as you turn left or right, you're still going straight," Jennings said.
This marks the second serious safety incident involving an Urban Air franchise in Florida in recent years. In 2019, a 10-year-old boy fell 20 feet from a zip line at an Urban Air location in Central Florida when his harness allegedly failed. The child suffered broken ribs, a collapsed lung and brain injuries. Court records show that case was settled in 2022.
At the time of the 2019 incident, Urban Air said it takes safety seriously. The company has not yet responded to requests for comment about this weekend's fatal crash.
WPTV requested inspection records from the Florida Department of Agriculture for all amusements at the Port St. Lucie Urban Air location and will share those findings as they become available.
Any further details on the incident have not been released as police continue to investigate.
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