UPDATE: Nearly a year since since filing a lawsuit with Cedar Point, Rachel Hawes has reached a settlement with the amusement park according to James Murray, her attorney. Hawes sued Cedar Point after suffering severe, permanent injuries that resulted from a metal bracket from a roller coaster falling on her head.
The traumatic event occurred in August 2021 while Hawes was waiting in line to ride the Top Thrill Dragster at the Ohio amusement park. As a result of the injury, Hawes was subjected to medical expenses totaling over $2 million. Law firm Murray & Murray have stated that the terms of the settlement are confidential.
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The following was originally posted July 18, 2023:
A Michigan woman is suing Cedar Point amusement park after being struck in the head by a metal bracket that came loose from a roller coaster.
Rachel Hawes was waiting in line to ride the Top Thrill Dragster coaster in August 2021 when she was struck by the bracket, which came loose from one of the ride’s train cars. The lawsuit seeks an undisclosed amount of damages, though according to the suit, her medical expenses have exceeded $2 million and are expected to reach more than $10 million. The suit states that the accident caused Hawes to suffer “permanent, disabling personal injuries, including skull fractures and traumatic brain injury.”
An investigation by the Ohio Department of Agriculture found that half of the bolts that held that bracket in place had become dislodged during the event. A state investigation found no evidence that Cedar Point had acted illegally or negligible, though the ride has remained closed since the accident.
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