A piece of a roller coaster structure fell on a woman: she became disabled

A Michigan resident who was hit in the head by a piece of metal flying off a roller coaster in 2021 claims she will need medical care for the rest of her life, and treatment costs will exceed $10 million. New York Post.

Photo: IStock

Rachel Hawes was waiting in line to ride the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Ohio when she was suddenly hit by a random object that was later identified as a sign that belonged to the roller coaster. The victim filed a lawsuit in connection with the incident.

“While she was standing in line, she suffered serious and permanent injuries due to the fact that she was hit on the head by a piece of the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster,” the lawsuit says.

Hawes filed suit in the Erie County General Court in Ohio against Cedar Fair LP, owner of Cedar Point amusement park, and Doe Corporation for "amounts in excess of $25" and punitive damages determined by the jury.

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"The Proximity Sign came off the Top Thrill Dragster rollercoaster as a result of the bolts holding it in place loosening and breaking, which, due to improper installation and inspection, prevented the plate from being held in the proper position as intended by its design." , Hawes' lawyers say in the lawsuit.

The approach flag plate is a heavy L-shaped metal object about the size of a human hand that is bolted to the body of the train/train cars.

The Schwartz Creek resident claims to have suffered several serious injuries, including a head injury, cerebral hemorrhage and hematoma, and a head fracture that left her unconscious for more than 24 hours.

After being hit by a dropped metal object, Hawes was treated in a park and transported between three different hospitals in Ohio and Michigan, where she received a treatment bill of more than $2 million, with future costs expected to exceed $10 million.

"Cedar Park Defendants were negligent in not protecting people like Rachel Hawes from injury from parts, debris, or objects falling from rides," the lawsuit says.

Hawes was enrolled in graduate school to become an educator, but the lawsuit alleges she lost an estimated $1 in earnings and is "a life-long disabled person who will no longer be able to work."

According to a February 2022 Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) investigation report, the park is not responsible for Howes' injury. The report states that Cedar Point complied with all laws and regulations regarding the operation of roller coasters, and the situation was an accident.

“Following review of the documentation provided and interviews with Cedar Point personnel, the ODA found no evidence that Cedar Point knew or had reason to believe that the plate was in an unsafe condition that could pose a risk to customers, employees, or passengers,” the statement reads. message.

The lawsuit also alleges that the victim's injuries affected members of her family, including Slater's husband, who "is deprived of the company, companionship, care, assistance, attention, protection, advice, guidance and advice of his wife, he has acquired mental anguish."

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Howes' father Robert Edmonds experienced "fright, horror and severe emotional distress" when he saw his daughter being hit by a falling object.

Top Thrill Dragster was closed after the incident while the state investigated.

A year later, government officials announced that the park would be closed permanently.

"After 19 seasons with 18 million passengers experiencing some of the world's fastest and highest roller coasters, Top Thrill Dragster is retiring," the park said in a September 2022 statement.

At the time of its closure, Top Thrill Dragster was one of the tallest and fastest coasters in the world—second only to Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, reaching speeds of 120 miles (193 km) per hour, with a height of 420 feet (128 m). ).

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