A Florida go-kart park allegedly allowed an underage child to drive a kart without a seatbelt when she was tragically killed in a crash last year, authorities say.

The Florida Department of Agriculture accused the Urban Air Adventure Park in Port St. Lucie of a litany of errors as it ordered the company to pay a $300,000 settlement to the state, saying safety violations led to the death of Emma Riddle, 6, 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 go 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.

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Emma Riddle, 6, tragically died in December 2025 in a horror go kart crash while celebrating her sister’s birthday

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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.

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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