The park has already announced it will not reopen this year. 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 . 4 min read. Write this down, he said during a recent phone interview. 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.". Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. [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. He stood atop the structure for an hour before safely . [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. [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. Cedar Point officials said the Top Thrill Dragster will be closed for the remainder of the season after a piece of metal struck a woman in the head last week. The piece of metal was about the size of an adult male's hand. Follow Craig Webb on Twitter: @CraigWebb68. They added: "Our team is hard at work, creating a new and reimagined ride experience.. 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. Posted by 8 days ago. 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. From the start, the coaster was plagued by issues that led to its frequent closings as the park grappled with its complicatedhydraulic system. piece of metal that struck a Cedar Point amusement parkguest, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. And in 2016, two guests were injured when a launch cable detached from the coaster. This could be seen as a reference to Formula One racing (and, perhaps accidentally, to the worlds fastest roller coaster, Intamins Formula Rossa in Abu Dhabi). We dont know what it was. We are one ofthe worlds largest theme park guide sites, hosting detailed guides to more than 80 theme parks around the globe. It came, hit the top of one of those things and shot downwards.. : @Freeziebuddy #rollercoasters #themeparks #amusementparks pic.twitter.com/OkgbokSDtJ. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. She was initially taken to the Firelands Medical Center but later transported to St. Vincent's Hospital in Toledo. That is now considered the worlds tallest with a 456-foot elevation. 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.. She was told to back away. And in 2016, two guests were injured when a launch cable detached from the coaster. 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. The park says an announcement will be made later detailinga new and "reimagined" ride experience. Top Thrill Dragster is a steel launched strata roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, USA. The ride that dominates the Sandusky. The Top Thrill Dragster coaster at Cedar Point remains closed while the investigation continues. The park has already announced it will not reopen this year. In April 2002, work began on the concrete foundation. . Cedar Point, which has its own police department, has not released the report. Top Thrill Dragster is the fourth-fastest roller coaster in the world and takes riders from 0 to 120 mph in 3.8 seconds as they're launched 420 feet in the air. r/DeathObituaries. [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. Top Thrill Dragster is a hydraulically-launched steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. Ryan Leppo was also standing in line for the roller coaster when he saw the object fly through the air from the ride. ), 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.". 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. [23] Cedar Point announced that the coaster would be closed for the remainder of the season. A state investigation found no evidence that the park acted illegally or had reason to believe the ride was unsafe. 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 . Press J to jump to the feed. The news came eight days after the horrifying incident at the Sandusky amusement park that sent people in linescrambling for safety and Hawes seriously injured on Aug. 15. 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. 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. The decision comes a year after the metal flew off the 420-foot tall coaster in Sandusky and seriously injured Rachel Hawes. Our focus continues to be on the guest and her family, Clark said. Are you excited to ride the reimagined Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. (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. Top Thrill Dragster has been closed since the incident occurred on Aug. "Mechanics: Work; Energy and Power Study Guide Prahle The Top. Mike DeWine suffered injury while in East Palestine, U.S. There is a strong possibility that Zamperla and involved in the reimagining as they are currently retrofitting another Intamin accelerator coaster with LSM track. This is where the Formula One aspect could potentially come in. take a deeper dive into this in the video below. [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. WARNING: Some viewers may find this video disturbing. Those upgrades were made and the ride was ruled compliant on May 15. Meanwhile, its unclear when or even if Top Thrill Dragster will operate again. Photo: Tyler Buchanan/Axios [10] To construct the roller coaster, the park used five cranes, two of which were 480-foot (150m) tall. 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. 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. If all their paperwork was in order and it was a freak accident, I dont think anything should happen to them, said Yohe. Her family said in a statement at the time: "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, near Flint. The ride goesfrom standstill to 120 mph in just3.8 seconds. 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 . Top Thrill Dragster is themed to Top Fuel drag racing, with the starting launch designed to resemble a dragstrip. Four guests riding the coaster were hurt in 2004 when they were struck by metal shards from a metal cable during the launch. 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. 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. The accident has left a 44-year-old Michigan woman identified as Rachel Hawes in intensive care with a brain injury . Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster Media Story", "Cedar Point To Build Major New Thrill Ride For 2003 Season", "Top Thrill Dragster: Race for the Sky | Cedar Point", "Cedar Point makes good on its bet with 'Top Thrill Cubster' in honor of Chicago Cubs' World Series win over Indians (Video)", "Cedar Point opening day preview: Face masks, social distancing, HalloWeekends and more", "Cedar Point says Top Thrill Dragster, involved in serious accident, will remain closed for 2021", "ODA provides update on Top Thrill Dragster incident", "No laws broken in Cedar Point Top Thrill Dragster mishap that severely injured woman", "Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster, involved in August accident, will remain closed in 2022", "One of Cedar Point's most popular rides will be shut down for the 2022 season", "Cedar Point to retire Top Thrill Dragster", "Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point being retired, officials say", "Cedar Point permanently closing Top Thrill Dragster, world's second-tallest roller coaster", "Cedar Point's newest coaster starting to take shape along the Lake Erie shoreline", "Record Holders (Statistic: Height, Type: Steel)", "Record Holders (Statistic: Speed, Type: Steel)", "Record Holders (Statistic: Drop, Type: Steel)", "Hydraulic launched roller coasters at RCDB", "Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster still closed, undergoing maintenance", "Top Thrill Dragster closed for 2022 season", "Cedar Point is shutting down Top Thrill Dragster for good", "Top Thrill Dragster to be retired from Cedar Point", Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Top_Thrill_Dragster&oldid=1142142857, Articles with dead YouTube links from February 2022, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from January 2023, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. 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. [31] Prior to the end of Cedar Point's operating season, parts of the roller coaster's track near the station were dismantled. When this happened, a mechanic took the elevator to the top and pushed the train down the hill.[37]. 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. There may be reasons for the silence, including medical and ethical privacy concerns. There was a ton of people around her so I dont know if someone picked something up.. 32 . 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 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. 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. It honestly looked like a giant Jenga block, Leppo said. Twitter. 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 Rollercoaster Accident | Top Thrill Dragster Deaths on Rollercoasters Cedar Point Roller Coaster Accident Kills One October 1, 2021 kaplanlaw Premises Accidents In 2015, a Cedar Point roller coaster accident killed a man. The ride goesfrom standstill to 120 mph in just3.8 seconds. And did that process fail? 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. A state investigationfound no evidence that the park acted illegally or had reason to believe the ride was unsafe. 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. There have been other incidents involving the coaster that led to injuries though none as seriousas the latest one. [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. "We arent kidding when we say that this high-octane sprint to the checkered flag knows a thing or twenty about horsepower.". cshoup@gannett.com. 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. Cedar Point said the Top Thrill Dragster will still remain closed for the 2022 season. [20] In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, timed boarding passes called "Access Passes" were used temporarily to comply with social distancing guidelines. People say the view from 130 meters elevation is fantastic. But the ride has remained closed since the August 15, 2021 accident. Adding a Multi-launch system which could then include a roll-back. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. 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. 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,". 3. A new law, passed in 2019, requires the state to inspect roller coasters twice per year, up from once. Those upgrades were made and the ride was ruled compliant on May 15. [24] An ODA investigation later determined that half of the bolts securing the plate dislodged. Intamin, however, could still be the ones to convert Top Thrill Dragster but they have now removed the ride from their website which could give clue that they are distancing themselves from the attraction. Target of 130-135mph could maybe be feasible. [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. [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. They were here within seconds, he said. 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. You fix it. 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. tragic mishap last August severely injured a park guest, Woman at Cedar Point struck in the head by falling roller coaster piece, Multiple people injured on New Jersey Six Flags roller coaster with derailment history, officials say, New roller coaster, boardwalk in plans for 2023, Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. [23] The guest was taken to a nearby hospital and was found to have suffered serious injuries. Screamscape has posted photos on Facebook . There is a continued debate whether Intamin is involved in the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster? A woman visiting Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio was injured on Sunday after . The Post has sought comment from her family. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The woman named Rachel Hawes was 44 years old and was waiting in the queue of the Trump deal . Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows (except for the first car), for a total of 18 riders per train. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting new coaster coming to The Roller Coaster Capital of the World . No one knows, he responded. He could not speculate how fast the train was moving when the piece became dislodged but added it was likely at the ride's "maximum" velocity. [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. Theme Park Tourist is one of thewebs leading sources of essential information and entertaining articles about theme parks in Orlando and beyond. Rachel is fighting for her life, and we would ask for privacy in this difficult time.". "Rachel is fighting for her life, and we would ask for privacy in this difficult time. Her current condition is unknown. I checked everything we could. 0. Click link to read full story. 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. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts . 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. At the time it opened in 2003, it was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. It would be great to see Top Thrill Dragster fitted with new lightning trains which were unveiled at IAPPA in November 2022. 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. The womans current condition is not known. Yesterday, Cedar Point announced through a simple video posted to their official twitter page that the reimagined Top Thrill Dragster will return in 2024. [19], On August 7, 2016, two people were treated for minor injuries when the launch cable detached from the ride. Up until this week, however, it was not responsible for any known serious injuries. 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. An actual Top Fuel dragster weighs approximately one ton, while each train on the coaster weighed 15 tons. It was once the tallest roller coaster in the world. Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com. The ride's speed, height and hydraulic launch system make it a constant maintenance project. 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. The report said she had an "unknown type of head injury.". Investigators said they did not find enough evidence to show that the theme park violated any state laws. 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. (Editor's note: A version of this story briefly stated the incorrect size of the object in this incident. It then launched, accelerating to a speed of 120mph (190km/h) in 3.8 seconds. The woman cried out for help repeatedly from the ground near the Top Thrill Dragster. It is the tallest roller coaster with 130 meters in height. While first responders are treating her, a woman who claims to be a nurse urges them to get the woman a c-spine collar to support her neck. Why arent they telling us what went wrong and what theyre going to do to fix it and to keep it from happening again?. We are devastated by last weekends accident at Cedar Point," the statement said. Top Thrill Dragster featured a 420-foot-high hill and cars that reached a top speed of 120 mph. [45] Despite this, the ride never reopened, and its retirement was announced on September 6, 2022.[46][27][47][48]. 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. Because the incident is still under investigation, the ride remains closed and there is no additional information to share at this time.. 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. [1] It was designed by Intamin, who subcontracted manufacturing to Stakotra Manufacturing. 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. This is my version of Top Thrill Dragster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio. 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. The Top Thrill Dragster gained fame for reaching speeds of 120 mph in just 3.8 seconds. To the left of the launch area was a "Christmas tree" light, similar to those employed at the starting line of a drag strip. Copyright 2022 WOIO. August 27, 2021 by Oliver Willis. It is one of the most popular. WhatsApp. Claim your SPECIAL OFFER for MagellanTV here: https://try.magellantv.com/darkhistory. It seems as if the launch cable and retractable brake-fins on the launch track are being removed which isn't going to be a surprise to most now we know that the coaster is being reimagined, likely with a magnetic launch system. About the Cedar Point Dragster Accident: Exactly what from the ride train hit her has not been revealed. [15] A fifth car was added to each by midseason. TOP THRILL DRAGSTER: The High Octane Story of Cedar Point's Coaster Wars Icon And Its Post-Pitstop Second Life. The last time 19 News spoke. This came after an extended closure that spanned more than one season. August 17, 2021. 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. Just like the waterslide in Kansas.. 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. 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. The Cedar Point amusement park is located in Sandusky, Ohio and has been in operation since 1870. Cedar Point is charged with making daily inspections of its rides. Katie Boyer, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Agriculture, would not give a timeframe for the conclusion of the state investigation. The Ohio Department of Agriculture released a 620-page report on Friday, explaining their investigation into Cedar Points popular rollercoaster, the Top Thrill Dragster.
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