SANDUSKY, Ohio — A six-month investigation into the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster at Cedar Point found the amusement park did not violate state laws when a bracket shot off and seriously injured a woman last August.
The announcement was released Friday by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which oversees the state's amusement park industry.
In a 620-page report, the state investigation found “insufficient evidence to find the action or inactions of Cedar Point violated any of the laws…”
The incident happened in August when a bracket fell off the ride and struck the victim —44-year-old Rachel Hawes of Swartz Creek, Michigan — in the back of her head. She suffered severe injuries and was hospitalized for several days.
The ride was shuttered and the state investigation ensued.
Chief of Amusement Ride Safety David Miran said the item was an L-shaped piece known as a "flag plate," which is attached to the back of each train and acts as a sensor to help the operating system monitor vehicles on the track. According to Miran, the plate is roughly the size of a male human hand.
The inspection found that the Top Thrill Dragster “had multiple loose bolts” as well as damage. They also found “multiple bolts” in the brake framework were “found to be different or improper grade.”
In addition, the inspection found a car’s left magnet was missing a bolt.
As a result of the investigation, the state agency “is considering the matter closed and is not considering any administrative action against Cedar Point.”
“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 officials said in a statement Friday.
It has also been announced that Top Thrill Dragster will remain closed for the 2022 season.
The investigation found that a bolt “backed out of the ride” and failed by “instantaneous overload fracture” and allowed the flag plate to dislodge.
Investigators, according to the report, interviewed Cedar Point staff and reviewed “thousands of pages of maintenance records, witness reports and laboratory reporting.”
“Based on this review, ODA could not establish the levels of proof necessary to bring forward a violation against Cedar Point,” the report found.
It added, “ODA found no evidence that Cedar Point had knowledge of or reason to believe that the Top Thrill Dragster was in an unsafe condition that could cause a hazard to riders, employees, or the public…”
Staff told investigators that there had not been any issues with the flag plate that became dislodged. The track was inspected by Cedar Point the night before the incident and the flag plate was in “normal, working condition.”
You can read the entire report below:
This story is developing and will be updated.
Previous Reporting:
- Exclusive: Woman hurt on Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster in 2004 shares her story
- Exclusive: Photo shows bracket similar to one that injured Cedar Point guest
- Cedar Point investigation: Metal plate came off back of coaster and struck woman in head; family says she is 'fighting for her life'
- Guest taken to hospital after "small metal object" falls from Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster