Top Thrill Dragster shut down for '21

SANDUSKY — The Top Thrill Dragster won't reopen for the rest of the season. Cedar Point announced the decision Thursday after a woman suffered a serious head injury while in line to ride the roller coaster on Sunday. Park officials did not provide an update on the woman's condition. Officials continue to withhold information from the public, including her name and condition. On Wednesday, the Register notified park officials that the park had an obligation to gather initial information about the accident — including the victim's name — and that it was improper to continue withholding that information. The Cedar Point Police Department is a division of Sandusky police under a unique legislative arrangement. In the past, park officials have stated that it files public reports with the Sandusky Municipal Court, and records are available from the courts. That's not how the Ohio Revised Code (ORC 149.43) spells out how public agencies are required to keep records, however, and how they are required to make them available to the public for review when requested. "We are asking that you immediately release the name of the woman who was injured as you are responsible for doing," the Register wrote to park officials Wednesday morning. A formal public records request was sent to them. Carrie Boldman, the park's general manager, hung up abruptly when a reporter called her on Tuesday after saying she would call back. Calls to Jason McClure, the former general manager of the park who is now corporate vice president for parks services, went immediately to voicemail. Tony Clark, a park spokesman, hasn't spoken to the public since Sunday, after he announced that a small metal object had fallen from a Top Thrill Dragster train as it was ending its run and struck the woman. He has not returned phone calls or responded to emails. Witnesses described the woman's injuries as severe, and a woman who was there can be heard on video from a first responder's body camera obtained by the Register questioning if park EMTs were properly treating the injuries. She told them the victim needed a neck brace before being placed on the stretcher, but there was no brace available. The woman was rushed to Firelands Regional Medical Center and later transferred to another hospital. No information has been released by park officials, or anyone else, which hospital she was moved to, or about her condition. Here's the amusement park's Thursday statement: Our team has the health and welfare of our guest who was involved in Sunday's incident at Top Thrill Dragster at the forefront of our minds. We will continue to offer our support to her and her family in this unimaginably difficult time. We want to fully understand what happened and why. Together with the Ohio Dept. of Agriculture's Division of Amusement Ride Safety & Fairs, third party investigators, engineers and the ride's manufacturer, we are being careful, methodical and thorough. We will not rush the investigation and will work tirelessly in our search for answers in the interest of improving safety. This process will take time. As a result, Top Thrill Dragster will remain closed for the 2021 season. The safety of our guests and associates is our top priority and we refuse to operate any ride or attraction without total confidence in its safety.