Woman struck by metal object that fell off once world's second-tallest roller coaster suffered 'permanent, disabling injuries': suit

Published

2 years ago

July 13, 2023

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The Michigan woman who was struck in the head by a piece of metal that flew off what was once the world’s fastest and tallest roller coaster in 2021 claims she will need medical assistance for the rest of her life as treatment costs will exceed $10 million, according to a lawsuit.

Rachel Hawes was waiting in line to ride the Top Thrill Dragster rollercoaster at Ohio’s Cedar Point amusement park when she was suddenly hit by a random object, which was later identified as a proximity flag plate that belonged to the coaster.

“She was seriously and permanently injured when struck in the head by a part from the roller coaster, Top Thrill Dragster, while in line,” the lawsuit stated.

She filed a lawsuit in Erie County Common Pleas Courthouse in Ohio on Monday against Cedar Fair L.P., the owner of Cedar Point amusement park, and Doe Corporation for “sums in excess of $25,000” and punitive damages determined by a jury.

“The proximity flag plate came off the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster as a result of the bolts holding it in place becoming loose (backing out) and breaking, failing to hold the plate in its proper position as intended in accordance with its design because of improper installation and inspection,” Hawes’ attorneys allege in the suit. “The bolts on the proximity flag plate became loose and broke, due to the negligence of the Cedar Point Defendants.”

A proximity flag plate is a heavy “L-sharped” metal object, roughly the size of a human hand, that bolts to the body of the train/cars of a ride Hawes suffered serious and permanent injuries because of the incident.WKYC

The Swartz Creek resident claims to have suffered several severe injuries including head trauma that resulted in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), a brain hemorrhage and hematoma and a head fracture associated with a cerebral laceration that resulted in the loss of consciousness for more than 24 hours.

After being hit by the fallen metal object, Hawes received medical treatment at the park and was transported between three different hospitals in Ohio and Michigan, where she racked up a medical bill of over $2 million, with future costs expected to reach in excess of $10 million.

“The Cedar Park defendants were negligent with failing to protect individuals, such as Rachel Hawes, from being injured from parts, debris, and/or objects falling from Defendant’s rides,” the lawsuit read. She received medical attention at the park and at several hospitals with her medical expenses costing over $2 million.WKYC

Hawes was enrolled in a graduate school program to become an educator but the lawsuit claims she lost out on an estimated earning capacity sum of $1,265,000 and is “permanently disabled, and will no longer be able to work.”

The park was found not responsible for Hawes’ injury, stating Cedar Park followed all laws and rules pertaining to the operation of a roller coaster and found the situation was an accident, according to an investigative report from the Ohio Department of Agriculture released in February 2022. The proximity flag plate broke off the coaster and fell, landing on Hawes’ head while she waited in line.WKYC

“After examining the documentation provided and conducting interviews of Cedar Point staff, 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 on August 15, 2021,” the report read.

The lawsuit also claims members of her family have been impacted by her injuries, including her husband Slater, who is being “deprived of consortium, society, companionship, care, assistance, attention, protection, advice, guidance and counsel of his wife along with mental anguish.”

Hawes’ father Robert Edmonds has experienced “fright, terror, and serious emotional distress,” after watching his daughter get struck by he falling object.

Cedar Point did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The park was found not responsible for Hawes’ injury, stating Cedar Park followed all laws and rules pertaining to the operation of a roller coaster and found the incident an accident. The Top Thrill Dragster was closed following the incident and remained closed while the state held the its investigation, only to announce a year later it would remain shut down permanently.AP

The Top Thrill Dragster was closed following the incident while the state conducted its investigation.

State officials announced a year later that it would shut down permanently.

After 19 seasons in operation with 18 million riders experiencing the worlds first strata coaster, Top Thrill Dragster, as you know it, is being retired, the park said in a statement in September 2022.

At the time of its shutdown, the coaster was one of the tallest and fastest coasters in the world — second only to Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey — with the Dragster reaching speeds of 120 mph and 420 feet.

World

US-Saudi relationship feels tighter than ever as Trump signs flurry of deals

Published

32 mins ago

May 13, 2025

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US-Saudi relationship feels tighter than ever as Trump signs flurry of deals

In today’s Saudi Arabia, convention centres resemble palaces.

The King Abdul Aziz International Conference Centre was built in 1999 but inside it feels like Versailles.

Some might call it kitsch, but it’s a startling reflection of how far this country has come – the growth of a nation from desert bedouins to a vastly wealthy regional powerbroker in just one generation.

Trump latest: President signs huge arms deal with Saudi Arabia

At a bar overnight, over mocktails and a shisha, I listened to one young Saudi man tell me how his family had watched this transformation.

His father, now in his 60s, had lived the change – a child born in a desert tent, an upbringing in a dusty town, his 30s as a mujahideen fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan, his 40s in a deeply conservative Riyadh and now his 60s watching, wide-eyed, the change supercharged in recent years.

The last few years’ acceleration of change is best reflected in the social transformation. Women, unveiled, can now drive. Here, make no mistake, that’s a profound leap forward.

Through a ‘western’ lens, there’s a way to go – homosexuality is illegal here. That, and the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, are no longer openly discussed here.

Bluntly, political and economic expedience have moved world leaders and business leaders beyond all that.

The guest list of delegates at the convention centre for the Saudi-US Investment Forum reads like a who’s who of America’s best business brains.

Signing a flurry of different deals worth about $600bn (£451bn) of inward investment from Saudi to the US – which actually only represent intentions or ‘memorandums of understanding’ at this stage – the White House said: “The deals… represent a new golden era of partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

“From day one, President Trump‘s America First Trade and Investment Policy has put the American economy, the American worker, and our national security first.”

That’s the answer when curious voters in faraway America wonder what this is all about.

With opulence and extravagance, this is about a two-way investment and opportunity.

There are defence deals – the largest defence sales agreement in history, at nearly $142bn (£106bn) – tech deals, and energy deals.

Underlying it all is the expectation of diplomatic cooperation, investment to further the geopolitical strategies for both countries on key global challenges.

In the convention centre’s gold-clad corridors, outside the plenary hall, there are reminders of the history of this relationship.

There is a ‘gallery of memories’ – the American presidents with the Saudi kings – stretching back to the historic 1945 meeting between Franklin D Roosevelt and King Saud on board the USS Quincy. That laid the foundation for the relationship we now see.

Curiously, the only president missing is Barack Obama. Sources suggested to me that this was a ‘mistake’. A convenient one, maybe.

It’s no secret that the US-Saudi relationship was at its most strained during his presidency. Obama’s absence would give Trump a chuckle.

Today, the relationship feels tighter than ever. There is a mutual respect between the president and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – Trump chose Saudi Arabia as his first foreign trip in his last presidency, and he’s done so again.

But there are differences this time. Both men are more powerful, more self-assured, and of course the region has changed.

There are huge challenges like Gaza, but the two men see big opportunities too. A deal with Iran, a new Syria, and Gulf countries that are global players.

It’s money, money, money here in Riyadh. Will that translate to a better, more prosperous and peaceful world? That’s the question.

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