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. A description of the ride reads: "Riders are launched in the blink of an eye before sprinting straight up at a 90-degree incline. Cedar Point cleared by ODA in Top Thrill Dragster incident that injured SANDUSKY, Ohio (WOIO) - Cedar Point is off the hook for a rollercoaster accident last summer that severely injured one person. No one knows, he responded. 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. In its announcement online Tuesday, Cedar Point says the ride "as you know it is being retired. The park has already announced it will not reopen this year. Katie Boyer, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Agriculture, would not give a timeframe for the conclusion of the state investigation. Published: Sep. 6, 2022 at 12:38 PM PDT. Top Thrill Dragster is themed to Top Fuel drag racing, with the starting launch designed to resemble a dragstrip. Cedar Point closing Top Thrill Dragster; ride to be 'reimagined' after But it was later eclipsed by the Kingda Ka ride at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. The large crane which was previously on site has now been reported to have gone. I mean, you know its terrible, I mean, you go to have a good time with your family and then that, said Lucia Fultz. Cedar Point is charged with making daily inspections of its rides. 2 The Top Thrill Dragster has been permanently closed Credit: AP 2 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. It honestly looked like a giant Jenga block, Leppo said. [20] In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, timed boarding passes called "Access Passes" were used temporarily to comply with social distancing guidelines. [42] Its marketing tagline was "Race for the Sky". A brief message was played to the riders before the launch: "Keep arms down, head back, and hold on." Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster is being retired - Axios Columbus (See the video below. [24] ODA found there was "insufficient evidence to find the action or inactions of Cedar Point violated any of the laws" and concluded its investigation in February 2022. However, although work appears to be progressing well we now know for certain that Top Thrill Dragster will remain closed for the . 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. All rights reserved. The ODA is not recommending any administrative action against Cedar Point. UPDATE February 13 -The ongoing story of Top Thrill Dragster's reimagining is indeed an exciting one and we are pleased to be closely following its progress. Cedar Point retires Top Thrill Dragster coaster following 2021 accident Screamscape has now reported a rumor that Cedar Point is getting ready to start work on the site of the coaster. 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. In February, state investigators determined the amusement park in Sandusky was not responsible for what was determined to be an accident. Woman Struck in Head by Roller Coaster Piece Is 'Fighting for - Yahoo! Man Killed by Cedar Point Roller Coaster After He Jumped Fence to Pick Up His Cell Phone: Police In a statement posted on Facebook last Thursday, Cedar Point announced that the Top Thrill. Cedar Point announces that Top Thrill Dragster will remain closed for An actual Top Fuel dragster weighs approximately one ton, while each train on the coaster weighed 15 tons. 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. Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio announced on Tuesday it would be permanently closing the Top Thrill Dragster. The ride closed in August 2021 after a woman from the Flint area was injured when an. We all know that the launch will be the biggest change and it is clear from the photos that all track linked to the launch and brake system has been removed in preparation for new LSM launch track. Cedar Point found not responsible for Top Thrill Dragster accident last year that injured patron, Ohio Gov. We all saw it fly off: Video shows chaotic moments after woman hurt at Cedar Point. What the Recent Cedar Point Accident Teaches Us About Theme Park 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. However, although work appears to be progressing well we now know for certain that Top Thrill Dragster will remain closed for the entire of the 2023 season and will be ready to thrill guests once again at some point in 2024. The woman, who was hit in the head, was transported to Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky. [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. Posted by 8 days ago. The Top Thrill Dragster coaster at Cedar Point remains closed while the investigation continues. [5] In August, an informal announcement from Cedar Point confirmed the park was building a new ride for the 2003 season. Her family said in a statement at the time: "We want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this time. [24] The ODA required that Top Thrill Dragster be closed during the investigation and subsequent re-inspections. 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.. Found the internet! It has a 90-degree incline and further a 270-degree twist. 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. The womans current condition is not known. Published: 4:20 PM EDT August 23, 2021. Guest taken to hospital after "small metal object" falls from Cedar The ride ran another time before park guests could flag down staff at the front of the line to stop the ride, Leppo said, as some people started to scream and run to get out of line. 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. 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. [19], On August 7, 2016, two people were treated for minor injuries when the launch cable detached from the ride. Woman hit by metal object from roller coaster at Cedar Point - 13abc As of January9, 2023[update], the roller coaster is scheduled to reopen in 2024.[2]. Because the incident is still under investigation, the ride remains closed and there is no additional information to share at this time.. New in 2024. Our entire team is hard at work, creating a new formula for thrills. 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. From 2021:Woman at Cedar Point struck in the head by falling roller coaster piece. Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster Closed After Object Flies Off Ride Top Thrill Dragster To Be Reimagined, Rumors Fly Of What This Could Just like the waterslide in Kansas.. We will continue to update you on the progress as it happens on our news and Facebook page. [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. [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 featured a 420-foot-high hill and cars that reached a top speed of 120 mph. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com. 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. 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). The entire ride lasts 17 seconds. The ride's speed, height and hydraulic launch system make it a constant maintenance project. Exactly what from the ride train hit her has not been revealed. We arent kidding when we say that this high-octane sprint to the checkered flag knows a thing or twenty about horsepower.. "We arent kidding when we say that this high-octane sprint to the checkered flag knows a thing or twenty about horsepower.". The woman named Rachel Hawes was 44 years old and was waiting in the queue of the Trump deal . Top Thrill Dragster reaches a height of 420 feet (130 . [4] The concrete footings were kept hidden behind a fence when the park opened for the 2002 season. In April 2002, work began on the concrete foundation. Yesterday, Cedar Point announced through a simple video posted to their official twitter page that the reimagined Top Thrill Dragster will return in 2024. But the ride has remained closed since the August 15, 2021 accident. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. Close. 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. Woman Suffers Severe Head Injury at Ohio Amusement Park BODY CAM: Watch the chaotic scene at Cedar Point after a woman was hit by a piece of metal that came off the Top Thrill Dragster on Sunday. The launch system uses a very geared up motor capable of hitting 5850 rotations per . It was next scheduled to be inspected in September. "This is a very complicated ride," he said. 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. I have no idea. 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. 0. : @Freeziebuddy #rollercoasters #themeparks #amusementparks pic.twitter.com/OkgbokSDtJ. 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. "We want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this time. Cedar Point permanently closing Top Thrill Dragster, world's second Woman Injured After Being Struck by Metal Object from Roller - Yahoo! David Miran, ODA chief of amusement rides, said Top Thrill Dragster's green train, as seen in this file photo, lost an "L-shaped" bracket on the back of the train car during an Aug. 15, 2021, ride. 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. I'm sure Cedar Point will figure something out with Intamin to get Dragster operational for 2023. Log In Sign Up. 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 . 'We all saw it fly off': Video shows chaotic moments after - 13abc Ken Martin, an amusement park safety expert, suspects a maintenance failure is responsible for the accident. [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. WARNING: Some viewers may find this video disturbing. People say the view from 130 meters elevation is fantastic. We are very excited to see what Cedar Point has in store for the legendary Top Thrill Dragster in this extensive reimagining. 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. Even now, he said, while the investigation is ongoing, park officials should be more forthcoming,. 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. User account menu. Up until this week, however, it was not responsible for any known serious injuries. Cedar Fair Means Business With Announced $200 Million Annual Capital Spend, Track Completed For New Wild Mouse Roller Coaster Coming To Cedar Point 2023, Brand New Intamin Vertical Launch Coaster Could Revolutionize Guest Experience. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting new coaster coming to The Roller Coaster Capital of the World . [29][30] When it closed, Top Thrill Dragster had accommodated 18million riders over 19 seasons. So far, we have not had confirmation of what exactly this reimagining will look like when it is finished but there has been a lot of speculation online from Top Thrill Dragster fans and coaster enthusiasts (see below). 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 large investment tied it with Millennium Force as being the most expensive in park history. On Wednesday afternoon, he said the incident is still under investigation. Co-founder of the site alongside her amazing Husband Nick who had the vision and inspiration to create Theme Park Tourist from scratch. Its going to take them a while to do the forensics, said Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services. 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. 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. Meanwhile, its unclear when or even if Top Thrill Dragster will operate again. There is a continued debate whether Intamin is involved in the reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster? Top Thrill Dragster is among the fastest rollercoaster with a speed reaching up to 120 MPH. * Who is the victim and what is her condition? Top Thrill Dragster accident - 420ft high coaster closes forever after Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. It is great to see that Cedar Point is wasting no time at all in pushing forward with this much needed reimagining of Top Thrill Dragster. 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. Top Thrill Dragster* On July 14, 2004 . Hawes survived, though there have been no updated reports on her condition. Cedar Point Rollercoaster Accident | Top Thrill Dragster Deaths on August 17, 2021. LEGO IDEAS - Top Thrill Dragster 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. That is now considered the worlds tallest with a 456-foot elevation. Copyright 2022 WOIO. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. [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. I was hopeful it was going to reopen this season. [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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. She was standing in line to purchase something to eat, he said. 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. Before the mishap, some 18 million guests rode the ride that sent peoplesome 420 feet in the air at a speed of 120 miles per hour in just four seconds. State inspectors were at Cedar Point immediately following the accident. 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. Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster closes for remainder of - WDIV