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The object that descended from the Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point likely moved at 120 miles per hour when it hit a woman standing in line for the ride.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture, which inspects rides at amusement parks throughout the state, shed new light on the incident in a report on Monday (August 23); however, the victim’s condition remains unclear.
The report shows that the woman, whose name has not been confirmed publicly, was visiting the Ohio amusement park from Michigan, near Detroit. She’s 44. She sustained an “unknown type of head injury” and was transported to the hospital. David Miran, chief of the amusement ride safety division, confirmed to news outlets Monday that the object, a “flag plate,” flew from the ride at its maximum speed, cleveland.com reports.
Miran was unable to provide an update on the woman’s condition.
Officials have sent the roller coaster’s train for additional testing, and the Top Thrill Dragster will be closed for the remainder of 2021. A spokesman for Cedar Point did not comment on the Department of Agriculture’s report, cleveland.com noted.
Spokesman Tony Clark explained in a statement on August 15:
“At approximately 4:30 this afternoon, a small metal object became disengaged from a train on the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster as it was ending its run. The object came into contact with a female guest waiting in line for the ride. The park’s EMS team and Sandusky Fire Department responded immediately, and the guest was transported to the hospital for medical care. At this time, our focus is on the guest and her family.”
Since then, witnesses have recalled the “commotion” and what “looked like a metal disc flying through the air.”
The investigation remains ongoing.