Woman injured by metal beam that fell from Cedar Point roller coaster files lawsuit

A Michigan woman who was struck in the head by a metal bracket that fell off Cedar Point’s Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster has filed a lawsuit against the amusement park’s parent company and others.

The lawsuit, which was filed in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas on Wednesday  is seeking compensation from Cedar Fair, the parent company of Cedar Point, and others for alleged negligence in the incident.

Rachel Hawes, who is the plaintiff alongside her husband and father, was injured in August of 2021 after being struck by a metal bracket that fell from the ride. The suit said she was waiting to ride the roller coaster with her daughter. The bracket was described as an L-shaped piece of metal roughly the size of a man’s hand.

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The suit alleges Hawes was left disabled after the incident, and suffered a traumatic brain injury, a skull fracture and several other injuries that are listed in the suit.

The plaintiffs are seeking $12 million for past and future medical care required by the injuries, and more than $1.2 million due to the loss of Hawes’ earning ability.

The lawsuit also alleges that workers’ negligence led to the incident, although an investigation by the Ohio Department of Agriculture following her injury did not find evidence to bring any action against Cedar Point.

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