How did the girl get hit by the roller coaster?

Hawes was waiting in line to ride the Top Thrill Dragster with her father when the metal plate dislodged from a train and struck her in the head. The object was an L-shaped bracket roughly the size of a man's hand that had been attached to the back of a train car, state investigators said.



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During the ride, the 14-year-old “slipped through the gap between the seat and harness,” according to the state report. It concluded that “the cause of the accident was that Tyre Sampson was not properly secured in the seat.” The autopsy report said Tyre died from blunt force trauma.

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Hawes and her family are seeking damages in excess of $13 million. They claim that medical expenses have already totaled over $2 million and are expected to include another $10 million throughout her lifetime. The lawsuit also seeks damages of over $1 million for lost wages and earning potential.

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The lawsuit alleges that the metal plate that struck Hawes in the head came off because bolts holding it to the Top Thrill Dragster train had come loose due to improper inspection and maintenance of the ride. Hawes and her family are seeking damages in excess of $13 million.

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In August 2023, the speculation was confirmed after Cedar Point announced plans to transform Top Thrill Dragster into a triple-launched roller coaster using linear synchronous motors. The modified coaster is scheduled to reopen in 2024 as Top Thrill 2.

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At the time of its closure, Top Thrill Dragster had accommodated 18 million riders over 19 seasons. A portion of the roller coaster's track near the station was dismantled in late 2022. In January 2023, the park released the tagline A New Formula For Thrills on social media to describe the planned modifications.

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The family of 12-year-old Aalando Perry, a Tennessee boy who was injured on the Branson Coaster last year, has filed a lawsuit against Branson Coaster LLC. Aalando had to be rescued by firefighters on June 20, 2021 when he became trapped while riding the Branson Coaster and suffered serious injuries.

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For church organist Amy Wolfe, the love of her life is quite literally a mass of twisty tracks and loops. Wolfe says she first fell for the amusement park attraction 1001 Nachts at the tender young age of 13, and vowed to one day wed the Pennsylvania-based fairground ride.

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For church organist Amy Wolfe, the love of her life is quite literally a mass of twisty tracks and loops. Wolfe says she first fell for the amusement park attraction 1001 Nachts at the tender young age of 13, and vowed to one day wed the Pennsylvania-based fairground ride.

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“Rachel suffered permanent and life-altering injuries as a result of being struck in the head by a dislodged flag plate while simply standing in line,” said Attorney James Murray, who represents Rachel Hawes, her husband and her father.

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The decision by Cedar Point comes a year after a small metal object flew off the 420-foot (128-meter) tall Top Thrill Dragster coaster and struck a woman in the head at the park in Sandusky. A state investigation found no evidence that the park acted illegally or had reason to believe the ride was unsafe.

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