The parents of Chloe Elizabeth Smith have filed a federal lawsuit after Chloe was seriously injured when her go‑kart allegedly accelerated and crashed into a retaining wall on Feb. 16, 2024. The complaint alleges staff failed to provide a written safety disclosure and did not properly secure Chloe’s harness and lap belt, resulting in a "submarining" injury. The suit names Five Star Parks & Attractions and two subsidiaries, seeking $1 million in damages. Legal action is ongoing and both sides have not issued immediate comments.
Parents Sue After Daughter Severely Injured When Go‑Kart Suddenly Accelerated at Fun Land of Fairfax
The parents of Chloe Elizabeth Smith have filed a federal lawsuit after Chloe was seriously injured when her go‑kart allegedly accelerated and crashed into a retaining wall on Feb. 16, 2024. The complaint alleges staff failed to provide a written safety disclosure and did not properly secure Chloe’s harness and lap belt, resulting in a "submarining" injury. The suit names Five Star Parks & Attractions and two subsidiaries, seeking $1 million in damages. Legal action is ongoing and both sides have not issued immediate comments.
08:24 AM, 11/19/2025Society
On Feb. 16, 2024, Chloe Elizabeth Smith, an adult with autism, was seriously injured when her go‑kart allegedly accelerated unexpectedly and crashed head‑on into a retaining wall at Fun Land of Fairfax in Centreville, Virginia, according to a federal complaint filed on Nov. 14.
The suit, brought by Chloe’s parents and legal co‑guardians, Ellen and Michael Smith, in the U.S. Eastern District of Virginia, alleges that neither Chloe nor her mother were given a written waiver, safety disclosure, or warning before receiving wristbands that granted access to the park’s attractions. The complaint says that when Chloe boarded Go‑Kart No. 11 a young attendant buckled her in but failed to properly tighten the shoulder harness and lap belt or confirm the seat was secured.
Shortly after being cleared to ride, Chloe told staff her kart felt unusually slow despite pressing the pedal to the floor. The filing states that the kart then "suddenly and without warning" accelerated in an unsafe and rapid manner and crashed head‑on into a retaining wall. The complaint describes a "submarining" injury — when a rider slides beneath a poorly fitted lap belt — and alleges Chloe’s lower extremities struck the steering column. It says she has suffered severe injuries and will require ongoing medical care.
The Smiths name Five Star Parks & Attractions and subsidiaries Fun Land Opco LLC and The Track Intermediate Opco LLC as defendants, accusing them of negligence, negligence per se, failure to warn and breach of implied warranty. They are seeking $1 million in damages plus post‑judgment interest, costs and other appropriate relief.
Neither the Smiths’ attorneys nor a Five Star representative immediately responded to requests for comment. Five Star’s public materials note the company operates in more than 20 markets nationwide and emphasize commitments to equipment maintenance and staff training; the complaint disputes that adequate safety measures were in place in this instance.
Legal proceedings are ongoing.