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Top Thrill 2 test run at Cedar Point shows water ballast bag flying from ride during solar eclipse event: VERIFY

The test run video was viewed on X at least 400,000 times and had people speculating it showed possible risk to riders

CLEVELAND — With Cedar Point getting ready to open the new Top Thrill 2 ride this season, they've been running tests before opening day, and X user CPCoasterLover shared a video claiming to show one of these test runs that has garnered more than 400,000 views.

The video appears to show something flying out of the coaster as it rounds the top of the ride, leading to a lot of speculation online. So we're VERIFYING multiple claims related to the video.

CLAIM 1

The video you see below shows a test run of the Top Thrill 2 ride. It was shared by CPCoasterLover on April 8:

THE SOURCES

  • Cedar Point spokesperson Tony Clark
  • Credited original poster of the video on Reddit, u/ofwgtylor

WHAT WE FOUND

Cedar Point spokesperson Tony Clark told us this video shows a controlled test of the ride. We found the credited original poster of the video, and that person told us in a Reddit chat that it was taken during the solar eclipse event at Cedar Point on April 8.

THE ANSWER

So we can tell you that, yes, this is a legitimate video of Top Thrill 2 on a test run.

CLAIM 2

In a Cedar Point fan forum, people guessed what we see flying off of the ride was a bird with wings flapping.

THE SOURCE

  • Cedar Point spokesperson Tony Clark

WHAT WE FOUND

We asked Clark about this, and he told us, "It was a water ballast bag, used to add weight to the train during the manufacturer's controlled testing and they didn't secure it properly."

THE ANSWER

So per Cedar Point, we can tell you that's not a bird shown in the video. That's not true.

CLAIM 3

Others in the fan forum said this video showed what would happen to a human if the restraint on the ride is not secure.  

THE SOURCES

  • Cedar Point spokesperson Tony Clark

WHAT WE FOUND

Clark posted about this publicly on X, responding to someone by writing that the way the water ballast bag was improperly secured was "not part of the guest restraint system."

THE ANSWER

So @imcg83's post is also false. Nothing in the video shows what might happen to a human if there was a malfunction on Top Thrill 2.

Remember, if you see something and you're not sure whether it's true or false, you can send it our way to VERIFY. Email us a verify@wkyc.com, or text us at (216) 344-3300.

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