State report clears Cedar Point in incident where woman was injured from Top Thrill Dragster

SANDUSKY – A report released Friday from the Ohio Department of Agriculture states Cedar Fair and Cedar Point did not violate any laws in an August 2021 incident when Rachel Hawes, 44, of Swartz Creek, MI, was hospitalized when a piece of metal dislodged from the Top Thrill Dragster and hit her in the head.

The report investigated if Cedar Point broke any of the following ODA laws which state:

• No person shall operate an amusement ride in an unsafe condition that could cause a hazard toriders, employees, or the public.
• No person shall operate an amusement ride in a negligent, reckless, or careless manner.
• No person shall operate an amusement ride in a manner that did not conform to themanufacturer’s required operation and maintenance procedure, updated bulletins, and/ordirectives.

“After a thorough review of the evidence collected and documented in the Investigative Summary attached hereto, it is the opinion of the Amusement Ride Safety Division that there is insufficient evidence to find the actions or inactions of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company violated any of the laws found in Chapter 993 of the Ohio Revised Code or any rules adopted by ODA pursuant to ORC993.04,” the report states. “Therefore, ODA ARS is not recommending any administrative action against Cedar Point.”

Over a week after the incident, the Hawes’ family stated that she was “fighting for her life.” It is unknown, however, what her current condition is.