(Cedar Point) Just after 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sandusky police officials received a radio call for an injured female at Cedar. The Ohio Department of Agriculture released a 620-page report on Friday, explaining their investigation into Cedar Points popular rollercoaster, the Top Thrill Dragster. 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. 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! Sucks that Dragster will be closed longer. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 4 Dining Experiences We Wish Would Come To Walt Disney World, Lagoon: The Historic Theme Park That Was Nearly Destroyed. The ride was closed for the following day while the park and Ohio state officials investigated the incident. 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. Cedar . The park has already announced it will not reopen this year. [18] Shortly after it opened, a faulty valve on the hydraulic system caused a short-term closure. Updates About Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster. It was just scary, Leppo said. Her family said in a statement at the time: "We want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this time. Top Thrill Dragster reaches a height of 420 feet (130m), a maximum speed of 120mph (190km/h), and features a total track length of 2,800 feet (850m). The ride goesfrom standstill to 120 mph in just3.8 seconds. Photos:Cedar Points top roller coasters, attractions over the years, Cedar Point accident:Five days later: Cedar Point offers no updates on injured woman. [29][30] When it closed, Top Thrill Dragster had accommodated 18million riders over 19 seasons. The state on Monday released the one-page initialincident report, which identified the victim as Hawes ofSwartz Creek, Michigan. Prior to the accident, the Top Thrill Dragster was last inspected by the state on May 14 and no major issues were found. Investigators said they did not find enough evidence to show that the theme park violated any state laws. In a statement announcing the closure, the park noted it legacy of ride innovation continues". Speigel, however, said the permanent closure of Top Thrill Dragster was extremely unlikely. 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. The statement said that a small metal object fell off a Top Thrill Dragster train as it was ending its run and hit a female guest who was standing in the ride queue. 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. I mean, you know its terrible, I mean, you go to have a good time with your family and then that, said Lucia Fultz. 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. User account menu. : @Freeziebuddy #rollercoasters #themeparks #amusementparks pic.twitter.com/OkgbokSDtJ. * Who is the victim and what is her condition? Top Thrill Dragster At Cedar Point Will Return in 2024, Here Is How It Currently Looks! [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. Cedar Point screenshot A roller coaster. #TopThrillDragtser's station has been just about completely emptied at #cedarpoint. The launch system uses a very geared up motor capable of hitting 5850 rotations per . Thebrake bracket area of the track, which slows the cars at the end of the ride, showed signs of impact and were bent along withseveral horizontal track beams within about 25 feet of the damaged brake bracket. Kingda Ka opened two years later at Six Flags Great Adventure and broke both of Top Thrill Dragster's records, boasting a height of 456 feet (139m) and a top speed of 128 miles per hour (206km/h). 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. The woman named Rachel Hawes was 44 years old and was waiting in the queue of the Trump deal . 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. He added, I can guarantee you this was not the first time something like this has happened. SANDUSKY, Ohio (Gray News) - One of the world's most famous roller coasters is closing. Cedar Point, an amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, announced . There have been other incidents involving the coaster that led to injuries though none as seriousas the latest one. Adding a Multi-launch system which could then include a roll-back. 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. SANDUSKY, Ohio (WOIO) - Cedar Point is off the hook for a rollercoaster accident last summer that severely injured one person. 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. [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 piece of metal was about the size of an adult male's hand. Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster is being retired - Axios Columbus Columbus Sep 7, 2022 - News So long, Top Thrill Tyler Buchanan Tyler snapped this picture of Top Thrill Dragster's hill while standing in line two weeks before it closed in August 2021. 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. The video shows the removal of parts of the track around the loading station. The Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point remains closed while the investigation continues. I couldnt find anything. New in 2024. There was a ton of people around her so I dont know if someone picked something up.. It then launched, accelerating to a speed of 120mph (190km/h) in 3.8 seconds. Thats the easiest way to put it.. 4 min read. Please help me, she screamed as she was wheeled out of the ride area. Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com. Cedar Point, which has its own police department, has not released the report. The roller coaster is the second Accelerator Coaster model built by Intamin and one of two strata coasters in existence. [42] Its marketing tagline was "Race for the Sky". 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. It lost both records to Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in May 2005. 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. Its records were surpassed in 2005 by Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure. 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. When this happened, a mechanic took the elevator to the top and pushed the train down the hill.[37]. He identified himself as an off-duty sheriffs deputy. Photo: cedar point. Top Thrill Dragster featured a 420-foot-high hill and cars that reached a top speed of 120 mph. Top Thrill Dragster (Cedar Point) Following the death of 14-year-old, Tyre Sampson who tragically fell from the attraction, Orlando Free . A new law, passed in 2019, requires the state to inspect roller coasters twice per year, up from once. This ride (Top Thrill Dragster) has not demonstrated that.. [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. 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. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. [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. [13], Top Thrill Dragster's media day was held on May 1, 2003,[14] and it officially opened to the public three days later. A hydraulic launch system speeds riders from zero to 120 mph. From the start, the coaster was plagued by issues that led to its frequent closings as the park grappled with its complicatedhydraulic system. August 17, 2021. None of the injuries were life threatening. Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day. 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. 2's right rear lap-bar cylinder soft repair and a lap bar cylinder creep test. 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. Rachel is fighting for her life, and we would ask for privacy in this difficult time.". Reports indicated that a metal cable frayed during launch, shearing off shards of metal that struck the riders. 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. Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster in Ohio, US permanently closed following serious accident, "Cedar Point gives update on future of Top Thrill Dragster: 'New formula of thrills', "New Cedar Point coaster is a top-speed 'Dragster', "How to Build A Giant Quietly? 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. In summary this is what we know, work is clearly going on at the station. A large crane is on site and more launch track has now been removed. "We arent kidding when we say that this high-octane sprint to the checkered flag knows a thing or twenty about horsepower.". [25] However, Cedar Point was required to perform a list of repairs, including repairing damaged track sections and replacing "different or improper grade" bolts before ODA could certify the attraction to reopen. Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com. But the ride was plagued by frequent breakdowns and long lines over the years. Top Thrill Dragster is a hydraulically-launched steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. It is the tallest roller coaster with 130 meters in height. Hype Builds For TRON Lightcycle / Run With Further Photo Updates, Here Is How The Post-Show Looks! It has also consistently ranked as one of the world's top steel coasters in the annual Golden Ticket Awards publication from Amusement Today. This is my version of Top Thrill Dragster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio. The Cedar Point amusement park is located in Sandusky, Ohio and has been in operation since 1870. [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. take a deeper dive into this in the video below. 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. "Rachel is fighting for her life, and we would ask for privacy in this difficult time. Her current condition is unknown. Our entire team is hard at work, creating a new formula for thrills. 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. [8] By October, the roller coaster had reached 200 feet (61m) in height,[9] and the highest peak was topped off in December. Cedar Point is charged with making daily inspections of its rides. [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. The accident has left 44-year-old Rachel Hawes of Michigan in intensive care with a brain . "We want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this time. Yesterday, Cedar Point announced through a simple video posted to their official twitter page that the reimagined Top Thrill Dragster will return in 2024. [33], On July 14, 2004, four people were struck by flying debris while riding the coaster. I'm sure Cedar Point will figure something out with Intamin to get Dragster operational for 2023. IAAPA, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, tracks injuries on rides in the United States and Canada. Park Info. 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. piece of metal that struck a Cedar Point amusement parkguest, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. 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. Would You Want QUEEN To Replace Aerosmith On Rock 'n' Rollercoaster At Disney's Hollywood Studios? She was rushed to a hospital in Toledo for treatment. 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 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. [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. 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. The large investment tied it with Millennium Force as being the most expensive in park history. Those changesincluded hydraulic upgrades, a hydraulic propulsion system upgrade and repairs to black cherry car No. 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. Prior to the accident, the Top Thrill Dragster was last inspected by the state on May 14 and no major issues were found. September 30 -For anyone who is interested in the current progress of the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, you may be interested to see this video which has been posted to YouTube by Amusement Park Portal showing a view over the top of the construction fencing. 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. 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. 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. (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. [8] Originally, the design called for five cars on each train, but when the ride first opened, there were only four. The 45-year-old, of Swartz Creek, Michigan, was left with serious brain injuriesafter being hit while waiting to board the ride. We are devastated by last weekends accident at Cedar Point," the statement said. WhatsApp. None of the injuries were life threatening. Upon descending, the track twisted 270 degrees before leveling out, allowing the train to be stopped by the magnetic brakes. The investigation has found that half of the bolts thatsecured the bracket to the train body had also dislodged. 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. [15][34][35], Occasionally, a train was launched without sufficient speed to reach the top of the tower and rolled back onto the launch track, hence the term "rollback". From 2021:Woman at Cedar Point struck in the head by falling roller coaster piece. Sandusky firefighters are seen in the video preparing to take her from the park to a hospital. The report said she had an "unknown type of head injury.". If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Those upgrades were made and the ride was ruled compliant on May 15. 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. An actual Top Fuel dragster weighs approximately one ton, while each train on the coaster weighed 15 tons. He stood atop the structure for an hour before safely . 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. People say the view from 130 meters elevation is fantastic. Up until this week, however, it was not responsible for any known serious injuries. [6] Track pieces identified as Intamin were previously spotted near Mean Streak. There is a strong possibility that Zamperla and involved in the reimagining as they are currently retrofitting another Intamin accelerator coaster with LSM track. [24] The ODA required that Top Thrill Dragster be closed during the investigation and subsequent re-inspections. There is a continued debate whether Intamin is involved in the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster? They handled the report.. 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. Copyright 2021 WTVG. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting new coaster coming to The Roller Coaster Capital of the World . 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. Ripley Steam Engine. There may be reasons for the silence, including medical and ethical privacy concerns. [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. It came, hit the top of one of those things and shot downwards.. The visitant was clinging tight in line for the Top Thrill Dragster thrilling ride around 4:30 in the early evening when she was harmed, a Cedar Point representative affirmed. Please include the title when you click here to report it. Cedar Point said the Top Thrill Dragster will still remain closed for the 2022 season. 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. She, too, was hit by a flying metal object that came off a ride but it took years for the park to admit its role, he said. To read the full story about Top Thrill Dragster from start to finish, check out our recently updated featured article,TOP THRILL DRAGSTER: The High Octane Story of Cedar Point's Coaster Wars Icon And Its Post-Pitstop Second Life. 2021, 12:15 AM. It is thought that the old track will be re-used with new LSM launches being put on and retro fitted. 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. Published in the article on 24th of August is that a woman was in a serious situation as she was injured with an l shaped piece of metal detached from the roller coaster hath Cedar point and hit her head for which starts bleeding. Write this down, he said during a recent phone interview. We are one ofthe worlds largest theme park guide sites, hosting detailed guides to more than 80 theme parks around the globe. She was standing in line to purchase something to eat, he said. They added: "Our team is hard at work, creating a new and reimagined ride experience.. That's the promise that the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster has delivered on since its first iconic ride in 2003. Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. 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. My creation stands one meter tall (126 studs), and a has a two meter (288 stud) run out. It was his first time visiting the park. 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. From the tweet below fromUpdates About Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster, we can see that work is progressing fast and all that now remains of where the queue line stood is a hole in the ground. ), Sandusky Police Chief Jared Oliver said his department did not have an official report of the accident because the incident was handled by Cedar Point. [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. All rights reserved. Well this led to theme park fans speculating as to what Cedar Point has got planned. The ride that dominates the Sandusky. [3] After the 2001 season ended, a Dodgem ride across from Magnum XL-200's entrance was relocated to Michigan's Adventure to clear the way for the new ride. And in 2016, two guests were injured when a launch cable detached from the coaster. All rights reserved. Top Thrill Dragster* On July 14, 2004 . The Top Thrill Dragster coaster at Cedar Point remains closed while the investigation continues. In 2019, an estimated 1,294 injuries were reported across 131 parks, the equivalent of approximately 0.8 injuries per 1 million rides. This ride will be torn down. A hospital spokesman said she was then transferred to another facility. We are very excited to see what Cedar Point has in store for the legendary Top Thrill Dragster in this extensive reimagining. Authorities are investigating a harrowing incident at an Ohio amusement park that's a magnet for roller coaster lovers.