Ohio amusement park is being sued by a woman who suffered a traumatic brain injury after a metal object fell on her head from the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster
- Rachel Hawes, 46, suffered “serious, permanent, disabling personal injuries” following the August 2021 crash.
- The Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky was cleared of wrongdoing by a state investigation, but the ride was permanently closed
A woman who suffered a traumatic brain injury after a metal object fell off a roller coaster has sued the Ohio amusement park where the accident occurred.
Rachel Hawes, 46, of Michigan, was hit in the head by a large L-shaped metal bracket that fell from the Top Thrill dragster at Cedar Point Park in Sandusky in August 2021.
Hawes was hospitalized in critical condition and, although she survived, suffered “serious, permanent, disabling bodily injuries,” including “cranial fractures and traumatic brain injuries,” the lawsuit states.
Hawes, which filed its lawsuit Wednesday in Common Pleas Court in Erie County, Ohio, alleges that the park failed to “exercise reasonable care in the inspection and maintenance” of the coaster.
At the time, a park spokesman said, “A small metal object fell off a train on the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster as it was completing its ride.”
Rachel Hawes, 46, was hit in the head by a large L-shaped metal bracket that fell from the Top Thrill dragster at Cedar Point Park in Sandusky
A picture of the bracket was included in the state’s 620-page report after the accident
The Ohio Department of Agriculture conducted an investigation and released a 620-page report, but found no evidence that the park had acted illegally or that the ride was unsafe.
Hawes states that her medical expenses as a result of the accident have exceeded $2 million, with future medical care and treatment costs expected to exceed $10 million.
“She will need assistance with activities of daily living for the rest of her life,” the lawsuit states.
She is asking the court to rule that Cedar Point must pay her damages, including the value of medical services, lost wages, loss of earnings and physical pain suffered.
Video of the aftermath of the accident captured Hawes’ painful screams as she lay on the ground while paramedics administered first aid.
John McDermott, 27, said he was waiting in line with his girlfriend and son when he saw the object fall from the 420-foot structure right in front of him.
“I saw the thing hit the crowd, the lady fell, I heard it bounce off the concrete.” It was something metallic. It wasn’t a small object. It was quite large – bigger than the palm of my hand. “It looked like a metal disc flying through the air,” McDermott told Cleveland.com.
McDermott said several people called 911 and rushed to the woman’s aid. Some removed their shirts to stop the bleeding until Sandusky EMS arrived.
The roller coaster is 420 feet long. large and was last inspected in May, the next inspection is due in September. Ohio law requires roller coasters to be inspected twice a year
Hawes was hospitalized in critical condition and although she survived the trial, she says she suffered “cranial fractures and traumatic brain injuries”.
Cedar Point shut down the ride, which first opened in 2003 and sat at an elevation of 420 feet, after Hawes’ accident and announced it would permanently close in September 2022
A witness said several people called 911 and rushed to the woman’s aid. Some removed their shirts to stop the bleeding until Sandusky EMS arrived
Cedar Point shut down the ride, which first opened in 2003 and sat at an elevation of 420 feet, after Hawes’ accident and announced it would permanently close in September 2022.
In a statement at the time, the park said, “After 19 seasons of operation and 18 million riders experiencing the world’s first Strata Coaster, Top Thrill Dragster as you know it is being retired.”
“However, Cedar Point’s legacy of ride innovation continues.” “Our team is working hard to create a new and reimagined ride experience.”
A spokesman for Cedar Point said, “Due to company policy, we are not commenting on pending litigation.”
Rachel Hawes could not be immediately reached for comment.