Cedar Point cleared in Top Thrill accident investigation. Kingda Ka comes in second with a speed of 128 mph. File image. Top Thrill Dragster* On July 14, 2004, four people riding Top Thrill Dragster were struck by metal debris that sheared off the coaster's launch cable during launch. Hawes was seriously injured August 15th at the amusement park when she was struck in the back of the head by an L-shaped bracket about the size of a persons hand. The ride passed its last inspection, on May 24, 2021, and no major issues were found. (WXYZ) After nearly two decades and millions of riders, Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point is officially being retired. William Yohe, a resident in Sandusky said; The investigation also determined that the piece was an "L-shaped" bracket that was connected to the back of the car and supposed to hover over the track, David Miran, the ODA's chief of amusement rides, told the Journal. The investigation has found that half of the bolts that secured the bracket to the train body had also dislodged. If the ride was improperly designed, the park and the manufacturer of the ride may be liable under a theory of product liability. In August 2021, a woman was waiting in line for the Cedar Point Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster when she was struck in the head by a piece of metal that detached from the ride. RAW FOOTAGE of woman seriously injured at Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster Cedar Point ParkThree days after a freak accident at Cedar Point left a woman se. About the Cedar Point Dragster Accident: The last time 19 News spoke. The new coaster will feature cars that spin 360 degrees as it navigates 1,312 feet of dipping and twisting orange track. A new law, implemented this year in response to a fatality at the Ohio State Fair in 2017, requires all roller coasters to be. When it opened in 2003, Top Thrill Dragsterwas the tallest and fastest coaster in the world, but those records were surpassed in 2005 by the Kingda Ka coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. The question will be whether a reasonable amusement park operator would have repaired or warned users of the defect. It was once the tallest roller coaster in the world. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Not affiliated with the park, they probably REALLY hate us. 7. MouseTCGTCGBlastScandal GuidesWho Broke The Record?Maximum HistoryComic Book StorylineRaising DachshundBreaking News, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Who Is Jesse McCree? When the ride opened in 2003, it set four new records: world's tallest complete circuit roller coaster, tallest roller coaster, tallest roller coaster drop and fastest roller coaster. Cedar Point closing Top Thrill Dragster ride after it caused a severe injury in 2021 Craig Webb Akron Beacon Journal 0:00 2:10 AKRON, Ohio It was once the tallest roller coaster in the. The incident occurred on August 15 while the woman was waiting in line for the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster. There have been two minor incidents, however: In 2004, four people were struck by metal debris that shaved off the coaster's launch cable. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. If you or someone you love was injured by an amusement park ride, you and your family may be entitled to compensation. UPDATE September 16 - Since Cedar Point's official announcement last week which stated that the Top Thrill Dragster that we see today will be retired and they are "hard at work, creating a new and reimagined ride experience.", rumors have been circulating as to what we are likely to see. Full bio. Hawes was seriously injured by a piece of metal that fell from the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster at Cedar Point amusement park. The new Wild Mouse roller coaster will reach a height of 52 feet and boast six mouse-themed cars and one that is cheese-themed. 2023 The Robenalt Law Firm, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Disclaimer| Site Map| Privacy Policy |Business Development Solutions by FindLaw, part of Thomson Reuters, theme park can be held liable for injuries a guest suffers on their property, How Ohio Law Affects Your Personal Injury Claim, How Medical Gaslighting Can Lead to Malpractice, Mechanical problems such as snapped cables, failed brakes, or malfunctioning restraints, Structural failures when a part comes loose from the ride, Operator error due to failure to deploy safety equipment or properly restrain guests, or abrupt stops, Collisions with other vehicles, tracks, walls, structures, or guests. Several guests took off their shirts to help stem the bleeding until Sandusky EMS arrived a few minutes later, he said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The upgrades were completed and the ride was ruled compliant on May 15. Klicka p Avvisa alla om du inte vill att vi och vra partner ska anvnda cookies och personuppgifter fr dessa ytterligare ndaml. "The feeling of the wind catching your cheeks," she said. SANDUSKY - The future of Cedar Point's mega-coaster Top Thrill Dragster remains up in the air, even after the amusement park announced weeks ago that the ride was being retired. Simply put, Ringas said, Cedar Point has a rich history of building the biggest and best roller coasters over the years, earning it the moniker of "America's Roller Coast." 2 The Top Thrill Dragster has been permanently closed Credit: AP 2 New Wild Mouse coaster and lakefront restaurant to be part of revamped Boardwalk area at Cedar Point. Two inspectors, ODA's Chief of Amusement Ride Safety and enforcement agents are at Cedar Point today, performing an inspection of the ride and investigation of the accident," the department said in a statement to WJW on Monday. The ride was shut down last year after a woman was injured when a metal object fell from the roller coaster. \"Everybodys running and so I went the other direction to try and find her. It also boasted faux Goodyear Tires when it first opened. What Variant Card Types Are In Phyrexia: All Will Be One? Top Thrill Dragster is one of the parks most popular, but also most temperamental roller coasters. The decision by Cedar Point comes a year after a small metal object flew off the 128m-tall Top Thrill Dragster coaster and struck a woman in the head at the park in Sandusky, leaving her with severe injuries. State investigations later confirmed that the piece of metal that struck Hawes was about the size of "a man's hand," the Journal reported. During the ride's descent, the bracket which is typically attached by bolts came in contact with the track, ripped off the car and struck Hawes in the head, per the Journal. Some 860 ACE members traveled near and far this summer for a club gathering in Sandusky to take in the park's roller coasters. Half of the bolts also became dislodged during that time, the outlet reported. A guest who legally enters the park for entertainment purposes and suffers an injury has a good chance of holding the park responsible. Ringas said Cedar Point never does a major ride halfway, so she's pretty confident whatever becomes of the revamped Dragster will be memorable too. A Cedar Point spokesman also said Sunday that a small metal object became disengaged from a train on the roller coaster as it was ending its run. "Due to the changes in ride inspections implemented through Tyler's Law, this ride is required to be inspected twice a year, with a minimum of two inspectors performing each inspection," the statement read. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "The previous requirement was one inspection a year. An eyewitness to the incident described the object that struck the woman as a metal disc. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio announced on Tuesday it would be permanently closing the Top Thrill Dragster. Joelle Goldstein is a TV Staff Editor for PEOPLE Digital. Top Thrill Dragster did not open this season. It is the tallest roller coaster with 130 meters in height. Her condition remains unknown as of Monday afternoon. . [2] The ride opened on May 4, 2003 as the first complete circuit roller coaster to exceed 400 feet in height. Her injuries included some burns, however, at the end of the ride, I turn around and see blood dripping from my friends arms, she recalled. mlive.com. And some 19 years and a troubled past later, Cedar Point is retiring the famed Top Thrill Dragster. According to David Miran, the ODAs chief of amusement rides, the bracket is attached by a bolt and is supposed to hover just over the track. Follow on Twitter at @owillis. The next inspection was scheduled for September. Cedar Point's summer 2023 plans:New Wild Mouse coaster and lakefront restaurant to be part of revamped Boardwalk area at Cedar Point. State investigations say the piece of metal that struck a Cedar Point guest waiting in line for the park's Top Thrill Dragster was about the size of "a man's hand.". Since then, she has worked as a writer-reporter on the Human Interest team and an associate editor on the TV team. The rides speed, height and hydraulic launch system make it a constant maintenance project at the park. Top Thrill Dragster opened in 2003. Rising over 420 feet, the coaster was classified as a "strata coaster," a label Cedar . The attraction's last inspection was completed on May 14 by four inspectors from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which oversees amusement park ride safety, according to department officials. The decision comes a year after a small metal object flew off the 128m-tall ride and struck a theme park patron in the head. Opened in 2003, the Top Thrill Dragster is a strata roller coaster that reaches a top speed of 120 miles per hour in just 3.8 seconds, according to the Cedar Point website. [WTOL]. As an invitee, the park has a duty to act with ordinary care to ensure the safety of the guest, and the park can be held liable for any hidden defects that cause injury. It looked like a metal disc flying through the air.. The accident left 44-year-old Michigan resident Rachel Hawes in intensive care with a brain injury, the family said in a statement after the accident. 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In July of 2004, metal debris was expelled forcefully from the launch cable of Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster ride as the coaster was deployed. "We will not rush the investigation and will work tirelessly in our search for answers in the interest of improving safety. Rachel Hawes was identified as the victim by the Akron Beacon Journal and CBS affiliate WOIO. Cedar Point is bringing back a Wild Mouse coaster to its reimagined new Boardwalk area along the eastern beach side of the park. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. local time when a "small metal object" broke off from a train that was ending its run on the popular Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster, Tony Clark, a spokesperson for Cedar Point, told local news outlet Cleveland.com. The piece of metal was about the size of an adult males hand. "I feel bad for the little kids who were standing in line," Mc Dermott added. The Cedar Point amusement park is located in Sandusky, Ohio and has been in operation since 1870. During the Cedar Point coasters descent, the bracket came in contact with the track and was ripped off, striking the woman while she was waiting in line. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Mc Dermott left the queue area after EMS arrived, as the crowd was told to disperse and he figured there was nothing he could do to help. In the wake of the incident, two inspectors from the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) were called to the amusement park, where they performed an inspection of the ride and investigation of the accident, according to Fox affiliate WJW. In August 2021, a woman was waiting in line for the Cedar Point Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster when she was struck in the head by a piece of metal that detached from the ride. It was once the tallest roller coaster in the world. One of Only Two Strata Roller Coasters in the World Someone only 13 seeing something like that. They were treated at the park's first aid station, and two sought further treatment at a nearby hospital. It was something metal. Top Thrill Dragster Rachel Hawes is a 44 year old woman from Swartz Creek, Michigan. A state investigation found no evidence that the park acted illegally or had reason to believe the ride was unsafe. The Top Thrill Dragster joins the ranks of the Wicked Twister, Mean Streak, Mantis and Disaster Transport that were either removed or completely reimagined in recent memory. Updated: 7:10 PM EST February 18, 2022 SANDUSKY, Ohio Cedar Point was cleared of any legal wrongdoing Friday in the accident that led to a woman being seriously injured last summer when a piece. People say the view from 130 meters elevation is fantastic. She graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Television-Radio (and an appearance in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Final Four!). What Happened In Justice League: Endless Winter. Top Thrill Dragster is one of the park's most popular rides, featuring a single, 420-foot-high hill and a top speed of 120 mph. The second inspection for the Top Thrill Dragster for this year was planned for September.". The incident is being investigated by the Ohio Department of Agriculture Division of Amusement Ride Safety & Fairs. A state investigation found no evidence that the park acted illegally or had reason to believe the ride was unsafe. Put the pedal to the metal because no speeding tickets are cited to Top Thrill Dragster. The ride attracted long lines and gawkers since its opening in 2003. "We want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this time. Mc Dermott, the eyewitness, said he stayed in the park after the incident, in part because he was meeting friends later in the day. SANDUSKY, Ohio (WTVG) - Sandusky Police bodycam video from Cedar Point shows some of the chaotic moments after a woman was hit by a metal object that flew off the roller coaster she was in line to. An investigation cleared Cedar Point of violating any laws or rules in the accident. The Kingda Ka roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey, is considered the worlds tallest with a 139m elevation. Rachel Hawes is a 44 year old woman from Swartz Creek, Michigan. If you can prove that the amusement park violated a regulation, the injured person can hold the park responsible under the legal doctrine of negligence per se. Top Thrill Dragster opened in May of 2003, and was, at the time, the tallest roller coaster in the world. Avatar: The Last Airbender Graphic Novel Reading Order, What Happened In Destiny Lovers? A spokesperson for Cedar Point did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.Visit our official website at http://www.CincyPhotography.comSubscribe to our YouTube channelhttps://bit.ly/2VAgdgEDownload photos from all our Cincinnati events:https://bit.ly/2tMP1zlFacebook: https://bit.ly/2TcxX4UTwitter: https://bit.ly/2TqSstNInstagram: https://bit.ly/2C2fihAPinterest: https://bit.ly/2IPnZll She was standing in line when she was hit in the head by the metal object. Our team is hard at work, creating a new and reimagined ride experience.. "The Ohio Department of Agriculture takes very seriously the safety of all amusement rides that operate in the state.