Top Thrill Dragster closed for 2022 season

SANDUSKY — Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster will remain closed for the 2022 season, the park announced on Friday, about six months after a fallen coaster part struck a park guest in the head, causing serious injury. The park's announcement coincided with the release of a more than 600-page investigation report from the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), the state agency tasked with ride safety at fairs and amusement parks. They were called in to investigate after a part — later determined to be a "proximity flag plate" — had come loose from the ride and struck 44-year-old Rachel Hawes, of Swartz Creek, Michigan, while she stood in a queue for a ride, on Aug. 15, 2021. The flag plate's purpose is to signal to the operator that the train has crossed a certain point along the track. The goal of the agriculture department's investigation was to determine if Cedar Point failed to safely operate the Top Thrill Dragster, if the park acted in a "negligent, careless or reckless manner" or if the park didn't properly maintain the ride to the coaster manufacturer's specifications. Investigators ultimately determined that fasteners connecting the flag plate to the ride failed in an "instantaneous overload fracture," causing the piece to dislodge. Cedar Point showed proof of routine inspections and repairs on the ride, and park staff told investigators there was no damage to the flag plate when it was inspected the night before the accident, the report states. This photo shows the metal flag plate that struck 44-year-old Rachel Hawes while she stood in line at the Top Thrill Dragster Aug. 15, 2021. Provided photo/OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE The investigators determined that there was "insufficient evidence" that Cedar Point had violated any state laws, and closed their case. "Cedar Point has cooperated fully with ODA throughout its investigation into the incident and we will closely review the substance of ODA's report," park spokesman Tony Clark told the Register. Hawes was transported to a Toledo hospital after the accident. Hawes' family said in a statement shortly after the accident that she was "fighting for her life." The family asked for privacy and, since then, there's been no condition update or information available about her continuing treatment. A source told the Register the Murray & Murray law firm in Sandusky was retained to represent Rachel Hawes and her family. Jim Murray, an attorney with the firm, confirmed on Friday he was hired by the family. "This was such a tragic accident and we appreciate the community's concern on behalf of the Hawes' family," Murray told the Register. - Appreciate news from your community? Click here to subscribe to the Register. - Report's findings The report noted that Cedar Point cut back on its off-season "overhaul" inspection and maintenance process for Top Thrill Dragster due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The park and the ride's manufacturer, Intamin, came to an agreement to complete a limited version of the typical overhaul process — which entails a "general inspection of the (ride's) trains and usually a complete overhaul of the train and its cars," a park supervisor told investigators. This was, according to park employees, due to pandemic-enforced closures at the park, which saw a reduction in running hours for Top Thrill Dragster. A park manager also told investigators that flag plates are usually replaced during a standard offseason overhaul. "(The manager) indicated that Cedar Point removes the proximity flag plates and replace(s) the fasteners with new hardware (during a typical overhaul)," a state investigator wrote in the report. State investigators acknowledged that, while Cedar Point did not complete its typical offseason overhaul of Top Thrill Dragster, they did not deviate from their agreed limited overhaul plan with the ride's manufacturer. "ODA could not find that Cedar Point failed to conform to the manufacturers' required maintenance procedures," the report states. Editor's note: Matt Westerhold contributed reporting. Read more about the accident at the links below