The Top Thrill Dragster, the second-tallest roller coaster in the world, was closed indefinitely by its management in Sandusky, Ohio, a year after a Michigan lady was badly hurt there by a flying metal bracket.
On Tuesday, Cedar Point Park posted a Facebook announcement about their choice.
The amusement park announced that the world’s first strata coaster, Top Thrill Dragster, is being deactivated after 19 seasons of service and 18 million riders.
But Cedar Point’s tradition of groundbreaking rides lives on. Our team is working diligently to provide a fresh and redesigned riding experience.
One of the most well-liked attractions in the park is the Dragster. It was initially introduced in 2003, is 420 feet tall, and accelerates from 0 to 120 miles per hour in less than 4 seconds.
Since Rachel Hawes, 45, of Schwartz Creek, Michigan, was struck in the head by an L-shaped bracket on August 15, 2021, the ride has been off-limits. Hawes was left battling for her life in the hospital.
The Hawes family released a statement immediately after the event saying, “We are horrified by last weekend’s disaster in Cedar Point.” “We would want to thank everyone for their prayers and thoughts during this time.
We kindly request your respect while we struggle for Rachel’s life at this trying time.
When contacted via phone, a relative of Hawes refused to respond to the MailOnline. He refused to disclose if the family was thinking about filing a lawsuit or whether Hawes had fully healed from her wounds.
There was no wrongdoing on the side of Cedar Point, and there was nothing dangerous about the ride, according to a 620-page report from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which conducted the inquiry.
According to Department of Agriculture spokesperson Bryan Levin, the ride’s shutdown was not compelled.
He said that the Department of Agriculture had not spoken to the park about the decision to shut down the ride.
The collision was not mentioned by park authorities, and Hawes could not be immediately contacted for comment.
Hawes’ agonised screams were captured on video of the accident’s aftermath as she lay on the ground receiving first assistance from emergency medical personnel.
As he waited in line with his girlfriend and kid, John McDermott, 27, claimed to have seen the item fall from the 420-foot-tall building directly in front of him.
“I heard it bounce off the pavement, saw the item strike the people, and the woman collapsed.” It was composed of metal. It wasn’t a little thing, either. It was larger than the palm of my hand, so it was rather large. According to McDermott, it seemed to be a metal disc soaring through the air.
Many individuals, according to McDermott, dialled 911 and went to the woman’s rescue. To staunch the bleeding until Sandusky EMS came, several people removed their clothes.
According to Newsweek, one visitor told the operator on a 911 call, “You need to send someone to Cedar Point.” “There’s someone who’s not doing well,” They were struck by something that fell off a ride, and they are bleeding from the head.
In its report, the Department of Agriculture published a picture of the metal bracket. It is roughly three inches long and two inches broad, and it seems to be made of sturdy steal.
According to nurse David Vallo, EMS arrived at the site within seconds of the event and helped the Sandusky Fire Department take the lady to Firelands Hospital, according to The News Messenger.
According to a statement from Cedar Point, a tiny metal piece came loose from a rollercoaster train as it was coming to a conclusion.
According to Ohio law, roller coasters must undergo an annual inspection, and the Dragster had its annual inspection in May 2021, four months before the disaster.
With a height of 456 feet, the Kingda Ka roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey, is regarded as the highest in the world.