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. The post goes on to say that track is also being removed from the load/unload station which does suggest that major work is being done which could mean the Top Thrill Dragster is getting a "switch-track and dedicated multi-launch track segment,". They can be seen in the video embedded below along with a commentary from America's Coaster Network with their thoughts on further changes. And some 19 years and a troubled past later, Cedar Point is retiring the famed Top Thrill Dragster. But the ride was plagued by frequent breakdowns and long lines over the years. SANDUSKY, Ohio (Gray News) - One of the world's most famous roller coasters is closing. [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. Published: Sep. 6, 2022 at 12:38 PM PDT. Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day. [16], In the last operational year of the Top Thrill Dragster in 2021, the roller coaster had the second tallest height, the third fastest speed, and the second-highest drop among steel roller coasters in the world. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Because the incident is still under investigation, the ride remains closed and there is no additional information to share at this time.. Theme Park Predictions & More! IAAPA, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, tracks injuries on rides in the United States and Canada. [2], After leaving the station, the train entered the launch area. We all saw it fly off: Video shows chaotic moments after woman hurt at Cedar Point. No one knows, he responded. Start your free trial TODAY so you can watch Alive about Eric LeMarque's survival in the Sierra Nevada wilderness, and the rest of MagellanTVs history collection: https://www.magellantv.com/watch/alive?type=e\u0026episode=mammoth-mountain-miracle-manThe in-depth story of Top Thrill Dragster Accident 2021. [45] Despite this, the ride never reopened, and its retirement was announced on September 6, 2022.[46][27][47][48]. The investigation has found that half of the bolts thatsecured the bracket to the train body had also dislodged. The 420-foot high roller coaster, which reached speeds of 120 mph, has been closed since Aug. 15, 2021 when Rachel Hawes, 45, of Swartz Creek, Mich., sustained severe brain injuries caused by a. 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. Once the train was prepared to launch, a motor revving sound effect was played and its magnetic braking fins were lowered from the launch track. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Cedar Point screenshot A roller coaster. 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, Cedar Point spokesperson Tony Clark tweeted on Tuesday. r/DeathObituaries. People who live in Sandusky still couldn't wrap their heads around the fact that such an accident happened. [36], On very rare occasions, a combination of the weight distribution of the train, the force of the launch, and the wind could stall a train on top of the tower. The state on Monday released the one-page initialincident report, which identified the victim as Hawes ofSwartz Creek, Michigan, near Flint. People who live in Sandusky still cant believe it happened. "This is a very complicated ride," he said. This ride will be torn down. Hawes was waiting in line to board the roller coaster. The bodycam video shows a park employee hand an officer a small bolt that he said came off the ride, but he said he wasnt sure if that object is what hit the woman. Top Thrill Dragster is a hydraulically-launched steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. From the start, the coaster was plagued by issues that led to its frequent closings as the park grappled with its complicatedhydraulic system. There have been other incidents involving the coaster that led to injuries though none as seriousas the latest one. Press J to jump to the feed. A hydraulic launch system speeds riders from zero to 120 mph in four seconds, effectively sling-shooting them over the hill. Thats the easiest way to put it.. Ken Martin, an amusement park safety expert, suspects a maintenance failure is responsible for the accident. Follow Craig Webb on Twitter: @CraigWebb68. Here's when Google will launch the Pixel 7 and its first s REBNY's new return-to-office gauge paints bright view for 'trophy' towers, Food delivery maven unveils NYC shop after dumping Mercedes mobile kitchens, US home prices just did something they haven't done since 2012, JPMorgan Chase requires some workers give 6 months notice before quitting, This Girl Scout cookie flavor is reselling for $100 online -- here's why, Kristen Doute supports Ariana Madix amid mutual ex Tom Sandovals scandal, Celeb-loved jewelry brand Dorsey drops dazzling new styles, White Lotus actor jokes about being hit on following shows success, Undertaker transforms coffin into barbecue grill, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave. . At around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, a female guest was waiting in line to ride the Top Thrill Dragster when a small metal object became dislodged from a train at the top of the 420-foot-tall ride, park . Close. It was next scheduled to be inspected in September. How can you protect somebody standing in line?, Dennis Speigel, an industry consultant, said hes confident Cedar Point will figure out what went wrong and will fix it. They were treated at the park's first aid station, and two later sought further medical attention. August 6 - Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point has been closed since August 2021 after an incident where a guest waiting in line was struck by a metal object that fell from the roller coaster. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. . Up until this week, however, it was not responsible for any known serious injuries. He was referring to a ride at the now-closed Schlitterbahn Kansas City, where a 10-year-old boy was killed in 2016. The accident has left 44-year-old Rachel Hawes of Michigan in intensive care with a brain . At the time it opened in 2003, it was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. Cedar Point is charged with making daily inspections of its rides. Increasing the height by either taking the top section off and re-engineering it or lowering the bottom ends of the track at the base of the tower into a below-grade trench. [5] In August, an informal announcement from Cedar Point confirmed the park was building a new ride for the 2003 season. At some point in its descent, Miran said, the bracket came in contact with the coaster's track and ripped off from the "green" coaster train and struck the woman in the head while she was waiting in line. [6] Vertical construction by Martin & Vleminckx[7] began in the fall season, months before the formal announcement. THE world's second tallest rollercoaster has been closed forever after a woman waiting in line was hit on the head by a metal bracket. Top Thrill Dragster fans have been speculating the possibilities over the the last few months of what this reimagining will include and although nothing is still officially confirmed, what we do know for certain is that the hydraulic launch will be replaced by a LSM launch track. A description of the ride reads: "Riders are launched in the blink of an eye before sprinting straight up at a 90-degree incline. In 2019, an estimated 1,294 injuries were reported across 131 parks, the equivalent of approximately 0.8 injuries per 1 million rides. The accident has left a 44-year-old Michigan woman identified as Rachel Hawes in intensive care with a brain injury . Updated: 7:19 PM EDT August 15, 2021 SANDUSKY, Ohio A "female guest" was taken to the hospital on Sunday afternoon after a "small metal object" came off of the Top Thrill Dragster roller . [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. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. I mean I think they should be kind enough and generous enough to help the family out., I feel like it probably should be a little stricter then because something like that shouldnt happen, said Sandusky resident Misty Townsend. [11] An official announcement revealing details on the new ride was made the following month on January 9, 2003. When theres an accident on a ride, you dont tear it down, he said. And did that process fail? The 420-foot high roller coaster, which reached speeds of 120 mph, has been closed since Aug. 15, 2021 when Rachel Hawes, 45, of Swartz Creek, Mich., sustained severe brain injuries caused by a flying L-shaped piece of metal about the size of a human hand that dislodged from one of the trains. (Special to WOIO) By Stephanie Czekalinski Published: Aug. 15, 2021 at 5:02 PM PDT SANDUSKY, Ohio (WOIO) - A female guest was injured while waiting in line at Cedar Point Sunday after a small. 0. It is thought that the old track will be re-used with new LSM launches being put on and retro fitted. 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. In August 2021, a 44-year-old Michigan woman Rachel Hawes was badly hurt when a metal bracket fell off the Top Thrill Dragster rollercoaster and hit her in the back of her head. Copyright 2022 WOIO. Our entire team is hard at work, creating a new formula for thrills. Why arent they telling us what went wrong and what theyre going to do to fix it and to keep it from happening again?. There is a unconfirmed rumor that the building where you would get Top Thrill Dragster photos from is to be torn down and will be part of the replaced long and thin queue line. A metal object fell from a train on Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster late Sunday, injuring a guest.The Plain Dealer. Dodonpa held the record previously with a top speed of 107mph (172km/h). It said more details about its plans would be disclosed in the future. In a statement announcing the closure, the park noted it legacy of ride innovation continues". Could we also see a more highly themed area surrounding Top Thrill Dragster? 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.. The park has already announced it will not reopen this year. A six-month-long investigation found that the amusement park is not responsible for the Top Thrill Dragster mishap that left a Michigan woman with brain damage. The 420-foot (128-meter) tall Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster will remain closed as officials from the park in Sandusky, ride experts and state authorities investigate, Cedar Point said in. Those changesincluded hydraulic upgrades, a hydraulic propulsion system upgrade and repairs to black cherry car No. [21], In August 2021, Top Thrill Dragster experienced a "serious accident"[22] in which a guest waiting in line was seriously injured after a small metal piece was dislodged from a train. Top Thrill Dragster, which opened in 2003, stands 420 feet tall and goes from zero to 120 mph within 3.8 seconds. A state investigationfound no evidence that the park acted illegally or had reason to believe the ride was unsafe. On Wednesday afternoon, he said the incident is still under investigation. Because the incident is still under investigation, the ride remains closed and there is no additional information to share at this time.. Miran said the steel track itself shows signs of damage where the bracket made contact as the coaster train made its way down the hill. "We want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this time. The state on Monday released the one-page initialincident report, which identified the victim as Hawes ofSwartz Creek, Michigan. We are very excited to see what Cedar Point has in store for the legendary Top Thrill Dragster in this extensive reimagining. [24] Although ODA finished its investigation in February 2022, exonerating Cedar Point from any wrongdoing,[25] park officials announced that Top Thrill Dragster would remain closed for the 2022 season. The ride's speed, height and hydraulic launch system make it a constant maintenance project. The piece of metal was about the size of an adult male's hand. Daughter of murdered couple linked to Delphi case reveals paranoia, Serena Williams stepmom's debts continue to spiral amid crumbling home battle, Alex Murdaugh looks unrecognizable in new mugshot hours after sentencing, 'Glaring error' left 'habitual liar' Alex Murdaugh 'boxed in' during trial, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, The Top Thrill Dragster has been permanently closed, A woman waiting in line was hit on the head by a metal bracket. But it was later eclipsed by the Kingda Ka ride at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. Miran said the steel track itself. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Boy, 8, hospitalized after getting hung from neck by rope ladder at PA amusement park, Girl clings from amusement park ride before dropping to the ground, injuring leg, Florida fairgoers get stuck upside-down on ride in terrifying mishap, Bob Iger jumping on Avatar boom with new ride at Disneyland. 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. [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. Top Thrill Dragster is a hydraulically-launched steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, United States.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 (120 m) in height. Cedar Point's legacy of roller coaster innovation continues with a one-of-a-kind addition to the park's world-renowned ride lineup, coming in 2024. Katie Boyer, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Agriculture, would not give a timeframe for the conclusion of the state investigation. 4 min read. SANDUSKY, Ohio Its been three days since a horrific accident at one of Cedar Points most popular roller coasters, and there are still more questions than answers about the incident. Top Thrill Dragster is one of the park's most popular, but also most temperamental roller coasters. AKRON, Ohio The piece of metal that struck a Cedar Point amusement parkguest waiting in line for the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster was about the size of "a man's hand," according to state investigations. 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. Facebook. Its records were surpassed in 2005 by Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure. It honestly looked like a giant Jenga block, Leppo said. 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. Her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 2002, but it was dismissed in 2006. . SANDUSKY, Ohio (WOIO) - Cedar Point is off the hook for a rollercoaster accident last summer that severely injured one person. Her family said in a statement at the time: "We want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this time. About the Cedar Point Dragster Accident: 4 Potential Options For The Disney's Hollywood Studios Attraction, TOP THRILL DRAGSTER: The High Octane Life of Cedar Point's Coaster Wars Icon And Its Race to Relaunch. We will continue to follow the development and progress of the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster which is slated to open in 2024 here at Theme Park Tourist. [18] Shortly after it opened, a faulty valve on the hydraulic system caused a short-term closure. 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. Authorities are investigating a harrowing incident at an Ohio amusement park that's a magnet for roller coaster lovers. Write this down, he said during a recent phone interview. We will continue to update you on the progress as it happens on our news and Facebook page. 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. He stood atop the structure for an hour before safely . * Who is the victim and what is her condition? See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Read more >> https://bit.ly/3yQzzC9. Top Thrill Dragster is one of the park's most thrilling and popular rides, with a top speed of 120 mph and height of 420 feet. 3. The Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio has shut down the Top Thrill Dragster, the second tallest roller coaster in the world, a year after a woman was seriously injured when a metal bracket fell off the ride and hit her in the back of the head. Sucks that Dragster will be closed longer. A range of photos were leaked online before Christmas of the current Top Thrill Dragster site. And some 19 years and a troubled past later, Cedar Point is retiring the famed Top Thrill Dragster. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting new coaster coming to The Roller Coaster Capital of the World . 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. Cedar Point said the Top Thrill Dragster will still remain closed for the 2022 season. Rachel is fighting for her life, and we would ask for privacy in this difficult time.". Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. [23] An investigation by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) determined that half of the bolts securing the plate dislodged. In its announcement online Tuesday, Cedar Point says the ride "as you know it is being retired. Rachel Hawes is a 44 year old woman from Swartz Creek, Michigan. 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. After she was taken away, another man approached the Sandusky police officer to describe what he saw. "Rachel is fighting for her life, and we would ask for privacy in this difficult time. Her current condition is unknown. Log In Sign Up. The report said she had an "unknown type of head injury.". 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 deputy said he ran toward the commotion to see how he could help. But the ride has remained closed since the August 15, 2021 accident. A state investigation found no evidence that the park acted illegally or had reason to believe the ride was unsafe. 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. I walked the whole thing. We posted an article, Top Thrill Dragster To Be Reimagined, Rumors Fly Of What This Could Look Like!,which outlined a number of potential ideas which included: Screamscape has posted on their Facebook page a number of photos which were sent in from a reader who had captured photos of parts of the track being removed. 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. Miran said prior to Monday afternoon's press briefing he contacted the woman's family to update them on the status of the investigation into what went wrong with the coaster that has been around since 2003. Please help me, she screamed as she was wheeled out of the ride area. 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. Pinterest. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page. It then launched, accelerating to a speed of 120mph (190km/h) in 3.8 seconds. David Miran, the Ohio Department of Agriculture's chief ofamusementrides, announced Monday thepiece that became dislodged is an "L-shaped" bracket attached to the back of the train car designed to look like dragster. In summary this is what we know, work is clearly going on at the station. New in 2024. 6 trains, with 5 cars. August 17, 2021. 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. Reports indicated that a metal cable frayed during launch, shearing off shards of metal that struck the riders. 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. The park says an announcement will be made later detailinga new and "reimagined" ride experience. On Wednesday, Director of Communications Tony Clark, in response to several questions, provided this statement: Our focus continues to be on the guest and her family. Posted by 8 days ago. Would You Want QUEEN To Replace Aerosmith On Rock 'n' Rollercoaster At Disney's Hollywood Studios? I'm sure Cedar Point will figure something out with Intamin to get Dragster operational for 2023. Cedar Point did not acknowledge the incident and stated the closure was for maintenance reasons. We will keep you updated as work continues on the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. 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 accident has left a44-year-old Michigan woman identified asRachel Hawesin intensive care with a brain injury, according to a family statementreleased to a Cleveland TV station. The injuries were mainly arm abrasions, with one passenger experiencing cuts to the face. Cedar Point, which has its own police department, has not released the report. Photos:Cedar Points top roller coasters, attractions over the years, Cedar Point accident:Five days later: Cedar Point offers no updates on injured woman. Following an incident in 2021 in which a guest was severely injured, the park closed the ride indefinitely, later announcing in September 2022 that Top Thrill Dragster would be retired and replaced with a new ride experience. When Top Thrill Dragster debuted, it set four new records: It became the fastest roller coaster in the world with a maximum speed of 120mph (190km/h). As you can see from the video which is embedded below, the only words which appear are "A NEW FORMULA FOR THRILLS" "COMING 2024". User account menu. A woman visiting Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio was injured on Sunday after . There was a ton of people around her so I dont know if someone picked something up.. Top Thrill Dragster reaches a height of 420 feet (130 . 2 The Top Thrill Dragster has been permanently closed Credit: AP 2 Let us know what you would like to see from the reimagined Top Thrill Dragster by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page. Screamscape has now reported a rumor that Cedar Point is getting ready to start work on the site of the coaster. Four guests riding the coaster were hurt in 2004 when they were struck by metal shards from a metal cable during the launch. Just like the waterslide in Kansas.. [43], In September 2017, a report with photos surfaced that the braking system on the launch side of the track may have been damaged, causing the ride to close indefinitely. 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. When it debuted in 2003, Top Thrill Dragster was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, a title it lost in 2005 to a nearly identical ride, Kingda Ka, at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. 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. In February, state investigators determined the amusement park in Sandusky was not responsible for what was determined to be an accident. He identified himself as an off-duty sheriffs deputy. Although Intamin has not worked with Cedar Fair since 2010 due to a number of issues with its installed rides at the parks, it would seem sensible with all the developments in reliability that Intamin has made in the last decade that Cedar Point would want their input for this extensive project because surely who best to do the job but the original creators of the attraction. People say the view from 130 meters elevation is fantastic. "This is a very complicated ride," he said. And in 2016, two guests were injured when a launch cable detached from the coaster. Her identity and condition remain unknown. The ride closed in August 2021 after a woman from the Flint area was injured when an. Top Thrill Dragster is a steel launched strata roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, USA. 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. 2's right rear lap-bar cylinder soft repair and a lap bar cylinder creep test. It was just scary, Leppo said. Bodycam footage shows the scene at Cedar Point after metal object hits woman at Top Thrill Dragster - YouTube Bodycam footage shows the scene at Cedar Point after metal object hits woman at. Top Thrill Dragster has been closed since the incident occurred on Aug. "Mechanics: Work; Energy and Power Study Guide Prahle The Top. That is now considered the worlds tallest with a 456-foot elevation. Top Thrill Dragster . 0. 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. 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. 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. Photo: cedar point. 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. [4] The concrete footings were kept hidden behind a fence when the park opened for the 2002 season.