Montezum at Hopi Hari leaves rider hospitalized for 57 days

The São Paulo Public Prosecutor opened an investigation into amusement park Hopi Hari in Vinhedo after visitor Júlia Bossoni sustained severe neurological damage during a ride on the Montezum roller coaster. Additional park visitors have also filed formal complaints describing bodily fractures and spinal injuries triggered by violent deceleration and track jolts along the circuit.

The incident occurred in April when Júlia Bossoni and her partner João Pedro traveled from Londrina, Paraná, to spend the day at the theme park in the interior of São Paulo. Upon arriving at the venue early in the morning, the couple secured spots near the front of the queue for the flagship wooden attraction. They intended to test the park’s premier ride before morning wait times lengthened.

Montezum ranks as the largest wooden roller coaster in Latin America, having operated at the site since its inauguration in 1999. The structure stands roughly 42 meters tall and propels train cars to speeds of 103 km/h across a track extending just over one kilometer.

Surveillance cameras positioned at the loading dock documented the couple taking seats in the rear section of the coaster car. Recorded footage confirmed that Júlia remained fully alert and responsive as the mechanical lift pulled the carriage up the primary 42-meter incline. Security monitors recorded no visual documentation of the remainder of the high-speed run.

“We managed to take advantage of a promotion and also received a VIP pass for the Montezum. We rode it the first time and had no problems at all,” João Pedro Bossoni stated.

Two minutes after departure, the coaster car pulled back into the disembarkation bay with Júlia completely unresponsive.

“She was already unconscious, having seizures right there in the seat, and in that moment panic takes over because you have no idea what to do,” João Pedro recalled. The sudden medical crisis halted loading procedures inside the station.

Park attendants approached the train and waited six minutes before transferring Júlia onto a portable stretcher to clear the platform. Operations on Montezum resumed for other park visitors immediately following her transfer to the internal first-aid unit. Technicians dispatched subsequent cars with fresh passengers.

Paramedics transported Júlia to Santa Casa de Vinhedo, a hospital facility located approximately 15 kilometers away, where emergency physicians admitted her directly to intensive care due to the acute severity of her condition. Diagnostic imaging revealed substantial intracranial bleeding alongside severe cerebral edema, prompting surgical teams to prepare an operating room for immediate intervention.

“It was an emergency decompressive craniectomy. This specific procedure requires the surgical removal of a large section of the cranial bone to allow the swollen brain tissue room to expand,” neurosurgeon Victor Batistela explained. The operation prevented fatal intracranial hypertension during the initial trauma phase.

Júlia remained hospitalized at the Vinhedo facility for 57 consecutive days following a definitive diagnosis of traumatic brain injury. The official medical assessment prepared by attending specialists confirmed that her intracranial trauma stemmed directly from a violent coup-contrecoup mechanical impact sustained during the coaster ride.

“A sudden acceleration, deceleration, and rotational force acting upon the skull can sever delicate cerebral blood vessels, triggering intracranial hemorrhaging and secondary swelling, which occurred in Júlia’s case,” Batistela explained. Rapid directional changes created immense gravitational forces on the passenger’s cranial cavity. The surgeon confirmed that extreme rotational velocity caused the underlying vascular rupture.

Surgeons at Santa Casa de Vinhedo admitted Júlia directly to the intensive care unit after diagnostic scans revealed extensive intracranial hemorrhaging alongside acute cerebral edema, prompting the medical team to immediately perform an emergency surgical procedure to remove part of her skull and relieve dangerous swelling. Family members confirmed that the patient had no preexisting medical conditions or underlying vascular ailments prior to visiting the amusement facility.

“She lost mobility entirely across the left side of her body, and she cannot move either her arm or her leg. She also suffers from pronounced speech impairments and clouded cognitive recollection,” João Pedro reported. Daily physical assistance became mandatory for all personal needs.

Previous riders report severe neck injuries on the wooden coaster

State investigators confirmed that Júlia does not represent the first documented victim to suffer major physical trauma while riding the Montezum wooden structure. In 2018, visitor Nathalia Assenjo Motta endured an almost identical physical catastrophe while seated on the same attraction.

“As the coaster dropped and surged upward through the curve, my neck experienced an extreme whiplash snap. My entire body shut down instantly,” Nathalia stated. The structural shock shifted several cervical vertebrae, requiring orthopedic surgeons to insert 12 surgical pins and two titanium rods to stabilize her neck.

Three days after emergency stabilization surgery, she recovered basic peripheral motor function but lost permanent mobility throughout her cervical spine. Hopi Hari management settled the matter privately by compensating her for direct material losses and surgical expenses.

“I had to pay out of pocket for physical therapy and specialized hydrotherapy sessions that private insurance refused to cover. I still endure terrible physical pain and must take high-dose prescription medications,” Nathalia explained. The lingering anatomical damage continues to restrict her routine movements.

Another visitor, Márcio, sustained catastrophic cervical trauma on the Montezum tracks in 2014, leaving him quadriplegic upon exiting the train car. The former motorcycle courier died in 2023 from systemic health complications linked to a recurring urinary tract infection.

“Two cervical vertebrae ruptured completely, but the underlying neurological damage that caused full quadriplegia resulted directly from violent whiplash forces, as established in the medical record,” attorney João Erhardt stated. Legal counsel documented the mechanical strain exerted by the ride carriage. Court filings documented the direct physical correlation between the coaster track and the passenger’s paralysis.

Consumer protection platforms show at least 40 individual incident reports lodged by park visitors regarding physical trauma on Montezum over the past two years alone. Reported complaints cite severe cervical strains, knee impacts, and cracked ribs caused by carriage turbulence.

Hopi Hari defends safety standards and cites international certification

Hopi Hari stated in a formal release that Montezum maintains valid international safety certification issued through inspection agency TÜV Nord, supported by annual technical reviews. The administration emphasized full compliance with Brazilian regulatory standard ABNT NBR 15926:2023, which establishes manufacturing and operational guidelines for theme park amusement machinery.

Park spokespersons maintained that warning signs and loudspeaker announcements inform visitors about physical restrictions on the radical coaster. Official park guidelines advise individuals with preexisting spinal disorders, pregnant women, and guests with acute medical conditions against boarding the attraction.

The company referenced an official finding issued by the São Paulo Public Prosecutor in August 2026, which concluded that Montezum posed no generalized collective danger to the public. Judicial authorities drafted that finding after park medical staff treated a woman complaining of intense cervical pain following a ride in July. The prosecutor closed that particular preliminary review without ordering mechanical alterations.

Regarding Júlia’s hospitalization, Hopi Hari asserted that staff provided immediate first aid on site, monitored her clinical care, and extended corporate insurance coverage to her relatives. The company stated that management maintained direct communication with her family during the acute hospitalization window.

Addressing the injuries suffered by Nathalia and Márcio, representatives noted that both incidents transpired prior to 2019 under previous ownership and operational leadership. The park dismissed complaints appearing on consumer websites as statistically insignificant when measured against more than one million annual visitors who boarded attractions without incident during the surveyed period. Park leadership categorized historical injuries as rare operational anomalies.

In January, Hopi Hari announced comprehensive maintenance and track refurbishment plans for Montezum scheduled for completion before the close of 2026. The technical overhaul aims to smooth track transitions across key wooden sections.

Relatives demand police inspection while patient undergoes daily therapy

Legal representatives for Júlia’s family filed petitions in civil court demanding forensic police inspections to determine whether track anomalies caused her acute head injury. The court action seeks independent mechanical verification of the coaster’s braking and acceleration profiles.

Five months after the incident, Júlia has undergone seven invasive surgical procedures while attempting to regain control over her limbs. Her mother and João Pedro coordinate daily care shifts to monitor her ongoing neurological recovery inside their residence.

“We arranged physical therapy three times a day, three days every week. We alternate those sessions with occupational therapy and daily speech pathology appointments,” said Danielle Rimolli, Júlia’s mother. The domestic therapy regimen consumes the family’s weekly schedule.

The family formally requested that photographic records and medical imaging captured during rehabilitation sessions remain sealed from public release. Legal counsel submitted the privacy request to shield the young woman from media exposure during intensive recovery.

“My sole focus is seeing her recover her health and regain her personal independence. We want her to find joy again, to converse freely, and to show the inner strength she always displayed,” João Pedro said. Specialized home care remains central to her daily progress.