Authorities are investigating a harrowing incident at an Ohio amusement park that's a magnet for roller coaster lovers. [28][29] Officials did not provide further details other than stating they were working on a "new and reimagined ride experience". Before the mishap, some 18 million guests rode the ride that sent peoplesome 420 feet in the air at a speed of 120 miles per hour in just four seconds. There was a ton of people around her so I dont know if someone picked something up.. The investigation has found that half of the bolts thatsecured the bracket to the train body had also dislodged. Its the first time something has happened and a person was struck., Martin recently worked with a woman who was injured at an amusement park in California while waiting in line. Top Thrill Dragster is one of Cedar Point's biggest and most popular rides so we originally assumed that Cedar Point would be keen to get the reimagining completed as soon as possible and the ride open again in 2023. Meanwhile, heres what is publicly known and not known about the accident: Clark issued a statement shortly after the accident, which occurred at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Woman hit by metal object from roller coaster at Cedar Point - 13abc Park staff appear in the video to administer first aid as Sandusky police officers and firefighters arrive with a gurney to transport her to the hospital. October 3 - In an update posted today by Screamscapewhich includes a number of photos, we can see work continues at an impressive rate on the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster At Cedar Point. None of the injuries were life threatening. Prior to the accident, the Top Thrill Dragster was last inspected by the state on May 14 and no major issues were found. The Top Thrill Dragster coaster at Cedar Point remains closed while the investigation continues. This ride will be torn down. According to Rob Decker, Vice President of Planning and Design, the park began working on a new project shortly after the debut of Millennium Force in 2000. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts . The deputy said he ran toward the commotion to see how he could help. [24] An ODA investigation later determined that half of the bolts securing the plate dislodged. Top Thrill Dragster is a hydraulically-launched steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. The last time 19 News spoke with Rachel Hawes family, they told us she had a serious brain injury. Dragster Accident At Cedar Point: 1 Woman Injured After Being Hit By Metal Object: Report . It happened around 4:30 p.m. Sunday as the woman was standing in line for the Top Thrill Dragster, when the piece came loose from a train on the coaster as it was ending its run, Cedar Point. The entire ride lasts 17 seconds. The report said she had an "unknown type of head injury.". It would be because of a passel of things., In 2009, for example, Kings Island closed and ultimately tore down Son of Beast, a massive wooden roller coaster, only after a series of injuries and problems and attempts to fix them. There have been other incidents involving the coaster that led to injuries though none as seriousas the latest one. Cedar Point is charged with making daily inspections of its rides. Top Thrill Dragster accident - 420ft high coaster closes forever after World's tallest complete circuit roller coaster, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 19:10. [13], Top Thrill Dragster's media day was held on May 1, 2003,[14] and it officially opened to the public three days later. piece of metal that struck a Cedar Point guest, Theodore Decker: Cedar Point betrays its customers through silence after amusement park injury, Body cam footage shows Cedar Point guest screaming in agony, Cedar Points top roller coasters, attractions over the years, Five days later: Cedar Point offers no updates on injured woman, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. [29][30] When it closed, Top Thrill Dragster had accommodated 18million riders over 19 seasons. Those upgrades were made and the ride was ruled compliant on May 15. Top Thrill Dragster is one of Cedar Point's biggest and most popular rides so we originally assumed that Cedar Point would be keen to get the reimagining completed as soon as possible and the ride open again in 2023. Top Thrill Dragster At Cedar Point Will Return in 2024, Here Is How It The large crane which was previously on site has now been reported to have gone. She was standing in line to purchase something to eat, he said. Reports indicated that a metal cable frayed during launch, shearing off shards of metal that struck the riders. Facebook. Death / Obituaries. After all that, they say they found no evidence to indicate that Cedar Point knew the Top Thrill Dragster ride was unsafe or could cause a hazard to the public. It doesn't appear that there are plans for an extended layout which was originally speculated. State inspectors were at the park investigating the Top Thrill Dragster on Monday, which was inspected in May and was set to be checked again in September. [23] The guest was taken to a nearby hospital and was found to have suffered serious injuries. A forty-four-year-old woman in Michigan suffered a brain injury after being struck in the head by an "L-shaped" bracket that detached from the 420-foot ride, the second-tallest roller coaster in the world. A hole in the ground where the Top Thrill Dragster queue used to stand. I mean I seen, like, a picture of what that metal was and that was a pretty thick piece of metal to just snap off like that., They sent us a statement that reads in part, Cedar Point has cooperated fully with ODA throughout its investigation into the incident and we will closely review the substance of ODAs report.. 3. Who Is Rachel Hawes? Woman Injured By Cedar Point Rollercoaster YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Top Thrill Dragster Accident: What happened to the lady that got hit Top Thrill Dragster . Rachel Hawes is a 44 year old woman from Swartz Creek, Michigan. A metal object fell from a train on Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster late Sunday, injuring a guest.The Plain Dealer. Up until this week, however, it was not responsible for any known serious injuries. It just was a problematic ride, one thing after another, said Speigel, a former Kings Island executive. If all their paperwork was in order and it was a freak accident, I dont think anything should happen to them, said Yohe. * Who is the victim and what is her condition? Thats what theyre going to do., He added, If they tear it down, it wont be because of this one incident. To the left of the launch area was a "Christmas tree" light, similar to those employed at the starting line of a drag strip. The ODA said the purpose of their investigation was not to determine the cause of the accident, just to make sure the amusement park followed all the laws in place to ensure the rollercoasters safety. Based on my knowledge and experience, if something comes off a roller coaster, that suggests to me a maintenance issue, said Martin, with KRM Consulting in Virginia. My creation stands one meter tall (126 studs), and a has a two meter (288 stud) run out. The ride is inspected regularly -- by Cedar Point staff, the parks insurance company and the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which oversees ride safety in the state. [2], After leaving the station, the train entered the launch area. [32] On January 9, 2023, Cedar Point announced on social media that the ride would reopen in 2024 under the tagline "A New Formula For Thrills", although the park did not release any other information at that time. Northwest Ohio snow emergencies by county, Thousands without power as winter weather rolls in, FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY Ending Tonight, March 4th (Friday night update), Parents, students arrested in fight at Toledo elementary school, WATCH: Dave White Chevrolets Basketball Friday, Week 14, Trifecta, WATCH: Dave White Chevrolets Basketball Friday, Week 14. The ride goesfrom standstill to 120 mph in just3.8 seconds. According to the ODA, the last inspection of the Top Thrill Dragster was completed on May 14, 2021, by four ODA inspectors, WJW Fox8 News reported. The launch system uses a very geared up motor capable of hitting 5850 rotations per . [44], On August 15, 2021, in what was described as a "serious accident",[22] a guest waiting in line was struck by a small metal piece that dislodged from a train as it was nearing the end of its run. The large investment tied it with Millennium Force as being the most expensive in park history. Copyright 2022 WOIO. August 16, 2021 8:25 AM A woman was injured Sunday when a metal object detached from Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point and struck her in the face. LEGO IDEAS - Top Thrill Dragster The investigation has found that half of the bolts thatsecured the bracket to the train body had also dislodged. The ride's speed, height and hydraulic launch system make it a constant maintenance project. Dodonpa held the record previously with a top speed of 107mph (172km/h). [8] Originally, the design called for five cars on each train, but when the ride first opened, there were only four. Thats the easiest way to put it.. We will keep you updated as work continues on the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. Target of 130-135mph could maybe be feasible. Could we also see a more highly themed area surrounding Top Thrill Dragster? Cedar Point patron injured while waiting to ride roller coaster Copyright 2021 WTVG. I checked everything we could. This ride (hopefully) is fully operational, as I cannot test it in the digital world. It then launched, accelerating to a speed of 120mph (190km/h) in 3.8 seconds. And in 2016, two guests were injured when a launch cable detached from the coaster. It was once the tallest roller coaster in the world. Cedar Point closing Top Thrill Dragster after severe injury last year Riders are launched in the blink of an eye before sprinting straight up at a 90-degree incline, read the description of the ride on the theme parks website. Just like the waterslide in Kansas.. Check out the rumors that are currently swirling below of what we may see in the reimagining and we will keep you posted with further updates when they are revealed on our news and Facebook page. A state investigationfound no evidence that the park acted illegally or had reason to believe the ride was unsafe. The park has already announced it will not reopen this year. It had been the tallest in the world until 2003 when it was replaced by Kingda Ka roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey. She was told to back away. Click link to read full story. If this was possible and the height could be increased above 418ft then Top Thrill Dragster would take back the record from Kingda Ka of being the tallest stratocoaster in North America. Sucks that Dragster will be closed longer. Close. This typically happened in cool, wet, or breezy weather, or when the wind was working against it. The bracket which was attached by bolts is supposed to hover just over the trackand a series of sensors that keeps tabs on the coaster as it makes its way at breakneck speed up and over a 420-foot-tall hill in 17 seconds. A range of photos were leaked online before Christmas of the current Top Thrill Dragster site. Natalie has always been amazed by theme parks and thinks nothing beats walking around a Disney Park soaking up the sights, sounds and magical atmosphere hand in hand with the ones she loves. After she was taken away, another man approached the Sandusky police officer to describe what he saw. We arent kidding when we say that this high-octane sprint to the checkered flag knows a thing or twenty about horsepower.. "This is a very complicated ride," he said. Miran said the green train's car and other pieces of evidence have been sent to a lab for further investigation. So far, we have not had confirmation of what exactly this reimagining will look like when it is finished but there has been a lot of speculation online from Top Thrill Dragster fans and coaster enthusiasts (see below). People say the view from 130 meters elevation is fantastic. The Cedar Point amusement park is located in Sandusky, Ohio and has been in operation since 1870. Cedar Point Top Thrill Dragster DeathSerious injuries and deaths are Are you excited to ride the reimagined Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. In a statement announcing the closure, the park noted it legacy of ride innovation continues". Follow Craig Webb on Twitter: @CraigWebb68. [33], On July 14, 2004, four people were struck by flying debris while riding the coaster. There was something like this big that came off, he said while holding his hands in a round shape that was about the size of a football. But it was later eclipsed by the Kingda Ka ride at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. August 27, 2021 by Oliver Willis. 0. Cedar . They were here within seconds, he said. Manufactured by Intamin and designed by Werner Stengel, it opened in 2003 as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, as well as the first full-circuit roller coaster to exceed 400 feet (120m) in height. I'm not saying that you should look down on #TopThrillDragster, but I AM saying that you should enjoy another aerial shot.#cedarpoint #rollercoaster pic.twitter.com/NlPcnrwSCV. Top Thrill Dragster has been closed since the incident occurred on Aug. "Mechanics: Work; Energy and Power Study Guide Prahle The Top. [19] The ride continued to experience a variety of issues dealing with its hydraulic system and launch cable, which frequently led to downtime early on in its tenure. Top Thrill Dragster To Be Reimagined, Rumors Fly Of What This Could Look Like! No one knows, he responded. An actual Top Fuel dragster weighs approximately one ton, while each train on the coaster weighed 15 tons. Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com. SANDUSKY, Ohio (WOIO) - Cedar Point is off the hook for a rollercoaster accident last summer that severely injured one person. Cedar Point cleared by ODA in Top Thrill Dragster incident that injured Ripley Steam Engine. Female waiting in line injured after metal object falls from Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point August 16, 2021, 3:49 AM A female guest was transported to a nearby hospital Sunday. 419-334-1035. [6] Track pieces identified as Intamin were previously spotted near Mean Streak. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Opinion:Theodore Decker: Cedar Point betrays its customers through silence after amusement park injury, Top Thrill Dragster:Body cam footage shows Cedar Point guest screaming in agony. September 26 - We heard at the beginning of September that the legendary Top Thrill Dragster "as we know it" at Cedar Point is to be retired and reimagined. Shortly after reaching its maximum velocity, the catch car disengaged, and the train began its ascent up a 90-degree incline, twisting 90 degrees clockwise before climbing over the 420-foot (130m) top hat. [38][39][40] Top Thrill Dragster was the second hydraulically-launched roller coaster from Intamin following Xcelerator at Knott's Berry Farm,[41] and along with Kingda Ka, it is one of two strata coasters ever built. The entire ride lasts 17 seconds. Park officials did not say if the accident influenced their decision to permanently close the coaster, which has operated for 19 years and drawn 18 million riders. Because the incident is still under investigation, the ride remains closed and there is no additional information to share at this time.. A maintenance worker, who the Sandusky police officer gave the bolt to, asked the deputy what happened to the piece that hit the woman. This ride (Top Thrill Dragster) has not demonstrated that.. From 18 world-class roller coasters to three areas filled with rides and attractions for kids and families, plus an 18-acre waterpark with plunging slides and shallow-depth kids areas, you'll quickly find out why Cedar Point is known as The Amazement Park - it's the ultimate family destination for FUN! Our entire team is hard at work, creating a new formula for thrills. UPDATE February 13 -The ongoing story of Top Thrill Dragster's reimagining is indeed an exciting one and we are pleased to be closely following its progress. Witnesses called 911 from Cedar Point amusement park after officials said a. But the ride has remained closed since the August 15, 2021 accident. Cedar Point found not responsible for Top Thrill Dragster accident last year that injured patron, Ohio Gov. Exactly what from the ride train hit her has not been revealed. Both Cedar Point EMS and Sandusky EMS responded to the incident. Top Thrill is well known among coaster fans for being temperamental and maintenance-heavy, with long periods out of commission. 6 trains, with 5 cars. We will keep you updated on the progress with Top Thrill Dragster on our news and Facebook page. Family of Woman Struck by Roller Coaster Piece Speaks Out - Peoplemag Hype Builds For TRON Lightcycle / Run With Further Photo Updates, Here Is How The Post-Show Looks! WhatsApp. Theme Park Predictions & More! Top Thrill Dragster - Wikipedia Rachel is fighting for her life, and we would ask for privacy in this difficult time.". [24] ODA found there was "insufficient evidence to find the action or inactions of Cedar Point violated any of the laws" and concluded its investigation in February 2022. Top Thrill Dragster is one of the parks most thrilling and popular rides, with a top speed of 120 mph and height of 420 feet. Co-founder of the site alongside her amazing Husband Nick who had the vision and inspiration to create Theme Park Tourist from scratch. Brake run supports remain whilst the rest have been removed and the track for the legendary Top hat track also remains. I have no idea. On Wednesday afternoon, he said the incident is still under investigation. Tony Clark, the director of communications at Cedar Point, tweeted: "After 19 seasons in operation with 18 million riders experiencing the worlds first strata coaster, Top Thrill Dragster, as you know it, is being retired.". On July 17, 2021, a man climbed to the top of the Supreme Scream tower, prompting the temporary closure of most of the park's attractions and surrounding streets. The ODA is not recommending any administrative action against Cedar Point. Claim your SPECIAL OFFER for MagellanTV here: https://try.magellantv.com/darkhistory. The report said she had an "unknown type of head injury.". A description of the ride reads: "Riders are launched in the blink of an eye before sprinting straight up at a 90-degree incline. piece of metal that struck a Cedar Point amusement parkguest, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Approximately 35% of the injuries were on roller coasters, 53% on family and adult rides, and 12% on childrens rides, according to IAAPA. One eyewitness described it as a metal disc flying through the air; another said it looked like a heavy steel L bracket., Early this week, the Sandusky Police Department released the body camera video from a responding officer, which shows a portion of the emergency response to the incident. We all saw it fly off. [24] The ODA required that Top Thrill Dragster be closed during the investigation and subsequent re-inspections. The Ohio Department of Agriculture released a 620-page report on Friday, explaining their investigation into Cedar Points popular rollercoaster, the Top Thrill Dragster. They will do a thorough inspection, looking over every square inch of the ride to find out how and why it occurred.. January 10 - Since September 2022 when it was confirmed that this legendary coaster would indeed be reimagined, all eyes have been on Cedar Point and the construction progress of the iconic Top Thrill Dragster. It said more details about its plans would be disclosed in the future. The decision by Cedar Point comes a year after a small metal object flew off the 420-foot (128-meter) tall Top Thrill Dragster coaster and struck a woman in the head at the park in Sandusky. Martin predicts that the ride will be permanently closed. With 87% of people who voted in our recent poll saying they want to see Top Thrill Dragster reopening we are guessing many of our readers will be following the progress of this closely. Imagine moving from a standstill to a breakneck 120mph (193 kph) in just 3.9 seconds. It is thought that the old track will be re-used with new LSM launches being put on and retro fitted. AKRON, Ohio It was once the tallest roller coaster in the world. Rachel is fighting for her life, and we would ask for privacy in this difficult time.". [16][17] Intamin designed both Kingda Ka and Top Thrill Dragster, and the two share a similar design and layout that differs primarily by theme and an additional hill featured on Kingda Ka. The Infamous Top Thrill Dragster Accident 2021 (Documentary) From 2021:Woman at Cedar Point struck in the head by falling roller coaster piece. In its announcement online Tuesday, Cedar Point says the ride "as you know it is being retired. There is a continued debate whether Intamin is involved in the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster? [19], On August 7, 2016, two people were treated for minor injuries when the launch cable detached from the ride. [45] Despite this, the ride never reopened, and its retirement was announced on September 6, 2022.[46][27][47][48]. 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. He was referring to a ride at the now-closed Schlitterbahn Kansas City, where a 10-year-old boy was killed in 2016. Those upgrades were made and the ride was ruled compliant on May 15. Top Thrill Dragster is among the fastest rollercoaster with a speed reaching up to 120 MPH. [26][27], On September 6, 2022, Cedar Point officials released an update on social media stating, "Top Thrill Dragster, as you know it, is being retired." [5] In August, an informal announcement from Cedar Point confirmed the park was building a new ride for the 2003 season. Ken Martin, an amusement park safety expert, suspects a maintenance failure is responsible for the accident. [15][34] Each dragster-themed train was also decorated with a spoiler, a set of tires, and an engine at the rear of each train, but these were removed after the fifth car was added to allow an extra row of seats to take their place. Eyewitness describes Cedar Point coaster accident: It looked like a metal disc flying through the air, Cedar Point guest injured after being hit by falling roller coaster part. New Attraction Coming in 2024 | Cedar Point Ryan Leppo was also standing in line for the roller coaster when he saw the object fly through the air from the ride. There have been recent rumors that Cedar Point could increase the theming of both the rollercoaster itself and the surrounding area. The accident has left 44-year-old Rachel Hawes of Michigan in intensive care with a brain . The decision comes a year after the metal flew off the 420-foot tall coaster in Sandusky and seriously injured Rachel Hawes. People who live in Sandusky still couldn't wrap their heads around the fact that such an accident happened. Found the internet! The state on Monday released the one-page initialincident report, which identified the victim as Hawes ofSwartz Creek, Michigan, near Flint. We are one ofthe worlds largest theme park guide sites, hosting detailed guides to more than 80 theme parks around the globe. The park has already announced it will not reopen this year. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. [33][15], The roller coaster was themed to Top Fuel drag racing, a category of motor racing that involved the world's fastest accelerating cars. The ride was closed for the following day while the park and Ohio state officials investigated the incident.