Tracking the Cedar Point accident that left Michigan woman Rachel Hawes with a traumatic brain injury after a metal component broke free from the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster and struck her while she was waiting in line in August 2021.
A Metal Bracket Flew Off Top Thrill Dragster And Struck Hawes In The Head. Hawes, then 44, was waiting in line for Top Thrill Dragster on August 15, 2021, when an L-shaped metal flag plate approximately the size of an adult man’s hand became dislodged from a train and struck her in the head. [NEWS 5 CLEVELAND]
Hawes Was Hospitalized And Her Family Said She Was “Fighting For Her Life.” Hawes was initially transported to Firelands Regional Medical Center before being transferred to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Toledo. Her family subsequently said she was fighting for her life and asked for privacy. [NEWS 5 CLEVELAND]
Investigators Found The Flag Plate Missing From A Top Thrill Dragster Train. Ohio investigators found that the green train was missing the flag plate on its left side, while half of the bolts used to secure the plate remained in place. Investigators also documented signs of impact and deformation in the ride’s brake-bracket area and on nearby track beams. [NEWS 5 CLEVELAND]
Ohio Investigators Found Insufficient Evidence That Cedar Point Violated State Law. After an extensive investigation, the Ohio Department of Agriculture concluded in February 2022 that there was insufficient evidence that Cedar Point’s actions or inactions violated Ohio amusement-ride laws. No state sanctions were imposed. [SPECTRUM NEWS 1]
Top Thrill Dragster Never Reopened In Its Original Form After The Accident. Cedar Point shut down Top Thrill Dragster immediately following Hawes’ injury. The coaster remained closed and Cedar Point eventually announced that the original attraction would be retired rather than reopened. [NEWS 5 CLEVELAND]
Hawes Sued Cedar Point Alleging Negligent Inspection And Maintenance. In 2023, Hawes, her husband and her father filed a lawsuit against Cedar Point’s parent company and other defendants alleging that negligence involving the installation, inspection, maintenance and operation of Top Thrill Dragster caused her injuries. [NEWS 5 CLEVELAND]
Hawes’ Lawsuit Accused The Defendants Of Interfering With Or Destroying Evidence. The complaint alleged that evidence connected to the accident was dismantled, altered or removed despite requests from Hawes’ attorneys that it be preserved. The claim was an allegation in the civil lawsuit and was not a finding of the state investigation. [NEWS 5 CLEVELAND]
The Lawsuit Detailed Extensive And Permanent Brain Injuries. Hawes alleged injuries including traumatic brain injury, brain hemorrhaging, cerebral edema, a subdural hematoma, hydrocephalus and an open skull fracture, and said the accident left her permanently disabled. [NEWS 5 CLEVELAND]
Hawes’ Medical Expenses Had Exceeded $2 Million. Her lawsuit said medical expenses had already surpassed $2 million and projected that future care and treatment could cost more than another $10 million. [CBS NEWS]
Hawes And Cedar Fair Reached A Confidential Settlement. In April 2024, Hawes’ family and Cedar Fair announced that they had resolved the legal claim. The financial terms were not disclosed, with the parties saying they had reached a fair and equitable agreement. [SPECTRUM NEWS 1]
Cedar Point Replaced The Original Attraction With Top Thrill 2. The park redesigned the former Top Thrill Dragster into Top Thrill 2, a triple-launch coaster that opened in 2024 after the original ride had remained closed since Hawes’ accident. [NEWS 5 CLEVELAND]
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One of the first political bloggers in the world, Oliver Willis has operated OliverWillis.com since 2000. Contributor at Media Matters for America and The American Independent. Follow on Twitter at @owillis. Full bio.