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Ohio won’t investigate Cedar Point ride accident

By WTOP Staff

JOHN SEEWER
Associated Press

SANDUSKY, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s amusement ride inspectors won’t be conducting an official investigation into an accident at Cedar Point that injured at least two people, but will have to give the OK for the swing ride to reopen.

The state only investigates accidents when someone is admitted to a hospital or stays overnight.

Two people were hurt Saturday night when a cable snapped on the Skyhawk ride that swings up to 125 feet in the air, said Cedar Point spokesman Bryan Edwards. One person was treated at the park and another was treated at a hospital, Edwards said. Details were not released about the severity of the injuries or whether those injured were on the ride or watching it.

Cedar Point has said the ride will remain closed until the park’s own investigation into the cause is completed.

State ride inspectors will be at the park in Sandusky later this week to meet with park officials and the ride’s manufacturer, said Brett Gates, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which oversees amusement rides in the state.

“We’ll need to see what’s being done so that the ride can open back up,” Gates said Monday.

The ride won’t be allowed to reopen until the inspectors review it and any repairs the park might make.

A witness who was near the Skyhawk told The Associated Press on Monday that the cable came off the ride and broke a wooden fence in front of it.

“We heard a whipping noise, a bang and screaming so we ran to the ride to see what had happened,” said Kevin Gregg of Barnegat, New Jersey. “The ride was still moving when we got there with people screaming.”

Gregg, who operates themeparkmaniacs.com, said he saw one girl walk to an ambulance and a man who was in pain and holding his mouth. By the next morning when the park opened, the cable had been removed and the section of fence was repaired, he said.

Ohio law says an amusement ride owner can’t disturb an accident scene until after approval by state inspectors. But because the accident did not result in a hospital stay, the law did not apply, Gates said.

Had the accident resulted in more serious injuries, the inspectors would have interviewed witnesses and ride operators and sought to determine the cause.

Because there will be no official investigation, there will be no report available from the state and details about what happened will not be required to be released.

The state also didn’t conduct an investigation when a boat on a water ride at Cedar Point rolled backward down a hill and flipped over into the water a year ago in July. Seven people were hurt, but only one was treated at a hospital.

The Shoot the Rapids water ride remained closed for the rest of the year before opening again this past spring.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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