Feel the 120 mph rush of the Top Thrill Dragster roller . I was hopeful it was going to reopen this season. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. 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. 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. I saw the thing hit the crowd, the lady fell, I heard it bounce off the concrete. [USA Today], Cedar Point: Rollercoaster Goes 120mph. The Cedar Point amusement park is located in Sandusky, Ohio and has been in operation since 1870. 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. 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. In 2004, The (Toledo) Blade reported that four riders were injured, though none seriously, after being hit with small pieces of debris during the rides launch. The company debuted the ride in 2003 and over the course of the 19 years it had more than 18 million riders according to Cedar Point. 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. State investigations later confirmed that the piece of metal that struck Hawes was about the size of "a man's hand," the Journal reported. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Put the pedal to the metal because no speeding tickets are cited to Top Thrill Dragster. Will Kadabra Be In The Pokemon 151 TCG Set? 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. In a statement released to WOIO on Monday, Hawes' family confirmed that she remains in the hospital's ICU in critical condition with a brain injury. Mc Dermott, the eyewitness, said he stayed in the park after the incident, in part because he was meeting friends later in the day. I feel bad for the little kids who were standing in line, Mc Dermott said. Free Confidential Consultations:216-930-6282, On Behalf of The Robenalt Law Firm, Inc. | Sep 29, 2021 | Types of Injuries. Last August, a 44-year-old Michigan woman was badly hurt when a metal bracket fell off the Top Thrill Dragster rollercoaster and hit her in the back of her head. 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. 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 The 17-second ride features a single, 420-foot high hill and a top speed of 120 mph. In July 2004, four passengers were struck by flying debris from a frayed metal cable, and in 2016 two riders were injured when a launch cable detached from the coaster. A family is speaking out about the woman who was injured by a roller coaster piece that hit her in the head at an Ohio amusement park. The ride remains closed while the investigation continues and will not reopen this year. The Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster at Cedar Point. Top Thrill Dragster is now the world's third fastest roller coaster at 120 mph. Top Thrill Dragster, Cedar Point's tallest and fastest roller coaster, has been shut down for the 2022 season. An Ohio Department of Agriculture inspector was onsite at Cedar Point on Sunday, and two more inspectors were at the park Monday performing an inspection of the ride and investigation of the accident, agency spokeswoman Katie Boyer said. The piece of metal dislodged and was thrown at a high rate of speed from the ride as the train returned to the station. [WTVB], Investigators: Metal Was Size Of A Mans Hand. That is all it takes to go from a complete standstill to 120 miles per hour. 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 is one of the park's most popular rides, featuring a single, 420-foot-high hill and a top speed of 120 mph. Learn more about our team and why people choose us, then contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation to discuss your case. Top Thrill Dragster opened in 2003. The second inspection for the Top Thrill Dragster for this year was planned for September.". Video: Body camera footage of Top Thrill Dragster accident: Whitney James Says She Was Injured On Top Thrill Dragster In 2004. We want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this time. A new law, implemented this year in response to a fatality at the Ohio State Fair in 2017, requires all roller coasters to be inspected twice per year. 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. According to Cedar Point, a metal object broke off of a passenger train on the Top Thrill Dragster as it was ending a run and struck the victim in the head. [1] It was designed by Intamin, who subcontracted manufacturing to Stakotra Manufacturing. Although it is frequently down for maintenance breaks, it does not appear to have been responsible for any serious injuries before. An ODA inspector was onsite at Cedar Point immediately after notification of the accident Sunday afternoon involving the Top Thrill Dragster. Rachel is fighting for her life, and we would ask for privacy in this difficult time.". "The previous requirement was one inspection a year. "I saw the thing hit the crowd, the lady fell, I heard it bounce off the concrete. The ride, designed and built by Liechtenstein-based Intamin Amusement Rides, was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world when it debuted in 2003. James said the riders were pelted with metal shards, melted rubber and hot grease. Top Thrill Dragster is required to be inspected twice a year, following a new law written after a death at the Ohio State Fair in 2017. [2] The ride opened on May 4, 2003 as the first complete circuit roller coaster to exceed 400 feet in height. Joined April 2022 17 Following 2,952 Followers Tweets & replies Media Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. ", "We want to fully understand what happened and why. One of Only Two Strata Roller Coasters in the World 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. 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. It was once the tallest roller coaster in the world. The ride . Screamscape has posted a number of ideas which are . Park officials made the announcement on Tuesday morning, saying that. It will make me think every time I get in line, he said. And some 19 years and a troubled past later, Cedar Point is retiring the famed Top Thrill Dragster. 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." Hawes Family Devastated By Accident. The ride that dominates the Sandusky. If Steel Dragon 2000 can reopen after shearing an axle causing a serious back injury and hit someone with a wheel then Dragster can reopen. More information is expected at a later date. It is part of a series of sensors that keeps tabs on the coaster as it goes over a 420-foot hill in 17 seconds. The fact that Cedar Point still has 16 roller coasters in its lineup is still impressive, Ringas said, as many so-called major parks boast less than 10. It is the tallest roller coaster with 130 meters in height. A park can be held liable for failing to act with ordinary care, such as if it failed to maintain a ride in proper condition, failed to perform regular inspections, or did not provide guests with the proper instructions. You know, Ive been an ER nurse for a long time.Vallo said he and other guests immediately sprang into action, assisting the still unidentified \"female guest\" who had been hit, telling 3News that the group used limited resources to triage her injuries. Cedar Point is bringing back a Wild Mouse coaster to its reimagined new Boardwalk area along the eastern beach side of the park. Because the incident is still under investigation, the ride remains closed, and there is no additional information to share at this time, said spokesperson Tony Clark on Wednesday.On Sunday, a woman standing in line for the Top Thrill Dragster was hit by an object that fell from the ride.In its initial statement, the park called it a small metal object.But witnesses described a much larger object.It was in an L-angle shape and had a round dent in it at the angle. By David K. Li and Pei-Sze Cheng / Workplace Matters, By Mallika Kallingal and Veronica Miracle / Crime. The legacy of the Top Thrill Dragster and its place in roller coaster history will never be forgotten, said Elizabeth Ringas, communications director for the American Coaster Enthusiasts club. Ls vr integritetspolicy och cookiepolicy fr att f mer information om hur vi anvnder dina personuppgifter. [WTOL]. To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. She was standing in line when she was hit in the head by the metal object. RELATED VIDEO: Roller Coaster Derails, Sending 2 People Plunging 34 Feet to the Daytona Beach Boardwalk Below. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. About the Cedar Point Dragster Accident: In 2014, a launch cable on the ride snapped, causing minor injuries to two riders. The park said an announcement will be made later of a new and "reimagined" ride experience. An Ohio state agency investigating last year's injury incident on Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster. (WXYZ) After nearly two decades and millions of riders, Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point is officially being retired. On Aug. 15, she was waiting in line for the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster at Cedar Point amusement park when she was struck by a "small metal object" that broke off from a train that was ending its run, Tony Clark, a spokesperson for Cedar Point, told Cleveland.com. The question will be whether a reasonable amusement park operator would have repaired or warned users of the defect. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. "It looked like a metal disc flying through the air.". It was something metal. A witness called 911 and told. After a horrific accident at Cedar Point Sunday afternoon, several eyewitnesses are coming forward to recount the tragic incident in which a "small metal object" fell from the Top Thrill. A spokesperson for Cedar Point did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. The park's roster of active roller coasters now stands at just 16 down from 18 a season ago as it approaches its popular fall HalloWeekends season. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Top Thrill Dragster is one of the parks most popular, but also most temperamental roller coasters. It launched riders on a straightaway at 120 mph before it climbed a hill and then came back down. 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. A US amusement park has announced it would be permanently closing the worlds second-tallest roller coaster. 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 . "The Ohio Department of Agriculture takes very seriously the safety of all amusement rides that operate in the state. "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 ODA told the outlet. It also boasted faux Goodyear Tires when it first opened. The ride lasted less than 20 seconds. 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. "We will not rush the investigation and will work tirelessly in our search for answers in the interest of improving safety. And some 19 years and a troubled past later, Cedar Point is retiring the famed Top Thrill Dragster.