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. 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. [19], On August 7, 2016, two people were treated for minor injuries when the launch cable detached from the ride. A hospital spokesman said she was then transferred to another facility. Because the incident is still under investigation, the ride remains closed and there is no additional information to share at this time.. * Who is the victim and what is her condition? If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Pinterest. The woman, who was hit in the head, was transported to Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky. 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. Updates About Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragsterhas recently posted a tweet showing that the station has been pretty much completely emptied. Cedar Point found not responsible for Top Thrill Dragster accident last year that injured patron, Ohio Gov. Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com. The woman cried out for help repeatedly from the ground near the Top Thrill Dragster. She was initially taken to the Firelands Medical Center but later transported to St. Vincent's Hospital in Toledo. [19], During the 2017 season's opening weekend, Cedar Point temporarily renamed the ride "Top Thrill Cubster", referencing a lost wager with Six Flags Great America over the World Series. It said more details about its plans would be disclosed in the future. [23] Cedar Point announced that the coaster would be closed for the remainder of the season. [8] Originally, the design called for five cars on each train, but when the ride first opened, there were only four. * What is the inspection process for Top Thrill Dragster? This is where the Formula One aspect could potentially come in. None of the injuries were life threatening. The video shows the removal of parts of the track around the loading station. [8] Officials for the park stated the goal was to build "the tallest and fastest roller coaster on earth", reaching 420 feet (130m) in height and accelerating up to 120mph (190km/h) in 4 seconds. (See the video below. 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. An investigation continues into what caused a piece to come loose from the Top Thrill Dragster and hit a woman standing in line to ride the roller coaster Sunday at Cedar Point. We can also see from an aerial image (October 7) that a lot of track has been removed so far and work appears to be progressing at a good pace. ", More: Multiple people injured on New Jersey Six Flags roller coaster with derailment history, officials say. Rachel is fighting for her life, and we would ask for privacy in this difficult time.". 2021, 12:15 AM. The ride's speed, height and hydraulic launch system make it a constant maintenance project. About 6% of the injuries were reported to be serious, resulting in a fatality or an immediate admission and hospitalization in excess of 24 hours. 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. Top Thrill Dragster featured a 420-foot-high hill and cars that reached a top speed of 120 mph. They were treated at the park's first aid station, and two later sought further medical attention. 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. [22] The piece was later determined to be a flag plate an L-shaped bracket that signals the train's location to sensors positioned along the track. You fix it. Click link to read full story. I think its a shock that something would happen like that. Tony Clark, a Cedar Point spokesperson didnt respond to another request for an update on the investigation into the ride Tuesday. 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. WhatsApp. Top Thrill Dragster . 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. It just was a problematic ride, one thing after another, said Speigel, a former Kings Island executive. Would You Want QUEEN To Replace Aerosmith On Rock 'n' Rollercoaster At Disney's Hollywood Studios? The accident has left 44-year-old Rachel Hawes of Michigan in intensive care with a brain injury, according to a family statementreleased to a Cleveland TV station. The park has already announced it will not reopen this year. [2] The ride opened on May 4, 2003 as the first complete circuit roller coaster to exceed 400 feet in height. August 27, 2021 by Oliver Willis. Top Thrill Dragster is a hydraulically-launched steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. (Editor's note: A version of this story briefly stated the incorrect size of the object in this incident.) 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. 2's right rear lap-bar cylinder soft repair and a lap bar cylinder creep test. SANDUSKY, Ohio (WOIO) - Cedar Point is off the hook for a rollercoaster accident last summer that severely injured one person. The Ohio Department of Agriculture released a 620-page report on Friday, explaining their investigation into Cedar Points popular rollercoaster, the Top Thrill Dragster. [13], Top Thrill Dragster's media day was held on May 1, 2003,[14] and it officially opened to the public three days later. WARNING: Some viewers may find this video disturbing. August 17, 2021. The photos also show that the returning/ brake track run is also being removed from the station to just past the "Finish" line. [6] Track pieces identified as Intamin were previously spotted near Mean Streak. [10] To construct the roller coaster, the park used five cranes, two of which were 480-foot (150m) tall. 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. The amusement park teased that Top Thrill Dragster will return with "a new formula" in 2024. [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. 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. SANDUSKY, Ohio (Gray News) - One of the world's most famous roller coasters is closing. Screamscape has now reported a rumor that Cedar Point is getting ready to start work on the site of the coaster. 0. The 45-year-old, of Swartz Creek, Michigan, was left with serious brain injuriesafter being hit while waiting to board the ride. 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. (Cedar Point) Just after 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sandusky police officials received a radio call for an injured female at Cedar. And some 19 years and a troubled past later, Cedar Point is retiring the famed Top Thrill Dragster. 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 ride. Investigators said they did not find enough evidence to show that the theme park violated any state laws. We will keep you updated as work continues on the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. Cedar Point:New roller coaster, boardwalk in plans for 2023, What's everyone talking about? The injuries were mainly arm abrasions, with one passenger experiencing cuts to the face. Are you excited to ride the reimagined Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. 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. 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. Cedar Point, an amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, announced . Top Thrill Dragster* On July 14, 2004 . They will do a thorough inspection, looking over every square inch of the ride to find out how and why it occurred.. Write this down, he said during a recent phone interview. I was hopeful it was going to reopen this season. We are devastated by last weekends accident at Cedar Point," the statement said. 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. 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. Using a new LSM Launch system to make Top Thrill Dragster go faster than Kinda Ka's current record of 0 to 128mph in 3.5 seconds. After she was taken away, another man approached the Sandusky police officer to describe what he saw. 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,". 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. Her identity and condition remain unknown. Her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 2002, but it was dismissed in 2006. . It was the fourth roller coaster to exceed 100mph (160km/h), preceded by Tower of Terror II at Dreamworld, Superman: Escape from Krypton at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Dodonpa at Fuji-Q Highland. The deputy said he ran toward the commotion to see how he could help. The investigation has found that half of the bolts thatsecured the bracket to the train body had also dislodged. 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. 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. 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. From the start, the coaster was plagued by issues that led to its frequent closings as the park grappled with its complicatedhydraulic system. It was once the tallest roller coaster in the world. [15] It became the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, overtaking the height record from Steel Dragon 2000 at Nagashima Spa Land, built three years earlier, and the speed record from Dodonpa at Fuji-Q Highland, which opened in late 2001. She was told to back away. Top Thrill Dragster At Cedar Point Will Return in 2024, Here Is How It Currently Looks! [42] Its marketing tagline was "Race for the Sky". Miran said the green train's car and other pieces of evidence have been sent to a lab for further investigation. The ride that dominates the Sandusky, Ohio, park's skyline has sat idle since a tragic mishap last August severely injured a park guestafter apiece of the ride about the size of "a man's hand," became dislodged and struck a woman standing in line in the head. Sucks that Dragster will be closed longer. The Top Thrill Dragster gained fame for reaching speeds of 120 mph in just 3.8 seconds. 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). 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. Cedar Point is charged with making daily inspections of its rides. 0. 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. Cedar Point officials have declined to answer questions about the accident in the days since it occurred. [15] A fifth car was added to each by midseason. "We want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this time. This came after an extended closure that spanned more than one season. [24] An ODA investigation later determined that half of the bolts securing the plate dislodged. 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. 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. But the 420-foot-tall (128 meters) Cedar Point ride hasnt moved since a devastating accident left a woman with severe brain injuries.So in this video, I am analyzing the incidents that ended the Top Thrill Dragster.Subscribe for more fascinating disaster documentaries: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClb6yg8d7eoZF6vnL4e8mog?sub_confirmation=1Tragic history playlist:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWtCh3_Fxp9FtVfTqXA06J3jhoxIFjpaFSuggest a topic for my next video: https://bit.ly/DarkHistoryTopicsWe reveal the world's darkest and greatest disasters all based on true stories.This disaster documentary is inspired by the fantastic \"Fascinating Horror\".Footage from:Theme Park Predictions \u0026 More! Marshals searching for Ohio man wanted in multiple crimes, 1 dead, 4 hospitalized after being hit by semi-truck following crash on Ohio Turnpike, 2-year-old Ohio boy found safe, Amber Alert canceled, police say, Duo of suspected porch pirates wanted on Clevelands West Side, police say, Trio open credit card with Lake County residents information to use at Macedonia Ulta, sheriff says, Closed Captioning/Audio Description Problems. (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. As of January9, 2023[update], the roller coaster is scheduled to reopen in 2024.[2]. On Wednesday afternoon, he said the incident is still under investigation. A maintenance worker, who the Sandusky police officer gave the bolt to, asked the deputy what happened to the piece that hit the woman. The news came eight days after the horrifying incident at the Ohio amusement park that sent people in linescrambling for safety and Hawes seriously injured Aug. 15. [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." Cedar Point did not acknowledge the incident and stated the closure was for maintenance reasons. 4 min read. It has also consistently ranked as one of the world's top steel coasters in the annual Golden Ticket Awards publication from Amusement Today. 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. 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. And in 2016, two guests were injured when a launch cable detached from the coaster. Top Thrill Dragster has been closed since the incident occurred on Aug. "Mechanics: Work; Energy and Power Study Guide Prahle The Top. 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. Cedar Point said the Top Thrill Dragster will still remain closed for the 2022 season. 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. [8] By October, the roller coaster had reached 200 feet (61m) in height,[9] and the highest peak was topped off in December. A hole in the ground where the Top Thrill Dragster queue used to stand. Cedar Point, which has its own police department, has not released the report. The ride was closed for the following day while the park and Ohio state officials investigated the incident. He identified himself as an off-duty sheriffs deputy. 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.