A Cook County judge approved a $990,000 settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit brought against the Tinley Park Park District by the family of a 5-year-old girl who died at White Water Canyon Water Park in 2023.
Megan Bagardo and her daughter, Hazel Gonzalez, went to the water park June 30, 2023 to celebrate Hazel’s graduation from a pre-kindergarten program, according to court documents.
Hazel, a nonswimmer, was playing on the children’s playground in the water park’s zero-depth pool when she went down the slide on the playground and was found unconscious in the water, according to court documents.
The Tinley Park Fire Department responded to a call of a full cardiac arrest at the water park, and found lifeguards performing life support on Hazel after she was pulled from the pool. She was later pronounced dead
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at Silver Cross Hospital.The majority of the settlement amount, $648,944, will be divided among Bagardo, Hazel’s father and nine siblings and half-siblings, according to court documents.
Corboy & Demetrio, P.C., the law firm that represented Bagardo, will receive $330,000 as attorneys’ fees, and $11,055 in reimbursements for costs associated with the case.
Bagardo’s lawsuit alleged the Park District and its employees caused Hazel’s death by acting recklessly, including by hiring an insufficient number of lifeguards, allowing Hazel to “utilize equipment on the kids playground and to swim alone without arm’s-reach supervision” and failing to respond immediately when she was in distress in the water.
The village of Tinley Park was also initially named as a defendant on the lawsuit, but was later voluntarily removed from the case by Bagardo.
The settlement and distribution of funds was approved by Cook County Judge Maire Aileen Dempsey Aug. 14.
“The Park District remains deeply saddened by this loss, and we extend our sincerest sympathies to the family and everyone affected by this unfortunate tragedy,” the Park District said in a statement.
White Water Canyon Water Park has not changed its staffing or safety practices since the incident, a spokesperson said. On Monday, the water park celebrated receiving a five-star rating for August from StarGuard ELITE, an independent organization that conducts safety audits.
An attorney representing Bagardo declined to comment on the settlement.