20:40 GMT 24 Oct 2021 The investigation also identified areas where protocols and the training of employees should be improved. Witnesses posted pictures of the aftermath of the collision as people were evacuated from the rollercoaster. It faces a multi-million pound fine and potentially millions more in compensation claims from the victims following a Health and Safety Executive prosecution. Alton Towers Smiler crash: Amputation a 'relief' says victim Others hurt included Vicky Balch, 20, from Lancashire, who had six rounds of surgery in a bid to save her leg before needing an amputation. Victims of Alton Towers Smiler crash at court to hear punishment They sent a test car down behind us anyway, which I thought was a bit strange, but I guess thats just procedure for them to do that, he said. Emergency services eventually rescued 16 people trapped on the rollercoaster at a 45-degree angle. Alton Towers Smiler crash: Victims' disgust at fancy dress share price plunge when it emerged the Smiler had been involved in a collision. Two women who lost legs after a crash on a ride at Alton Towers are suing the park's owners, their lawyers have said. CCTV shows horrific moment Alton Towers ride carriages smash into each other 'like 90mph car crash', Alton Towers Smiler crash victims pay tribute to Drayton Manor schoolgirl, Watch: Delighted passengers queue to go on The Smiler as it reopens, BBC Breakfast star Charlie Stayt halts show to warn Lenny Henry 'you shouldn't say that', Charlie was hosting BBC Breakfast on Thursday - but warned Lenny: "You really shouldn't say that. Alton Towers crash victim Vicky Balch marries fianc in 'emotional The crash on the Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers that seriously injured five people was caused by human error, the theme park's owner has said. Victims who lost limbs, broke bones and suffered internal injuries in the disaster relieved their ordeal as they faced the theme park's bosses at Stafford Crown Court today. Stock in the FTSE-100 firm dropped 3.46% to 444.3p a share after opening this morning at 462.6p a share. Sixteen people were injured in the crash in June 2015, including Ms Washington and Vicky Balch, who both needed leg amputations. Vicky Balch is now going to focus on planning her wedding, Sign up to our free email alerts for the top Bristol Voices stories sent straight to your e-mail. Alton Towers owner, Merlin Entertainments, saw its share price plunge when it emerged the Smiler had been involved in a collision. Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? He said the wounds suffered, both physical and psychological, had 'changed the lives of the some of those injured, in the most dramatic way'. A carriage containing 16 passengers crashed into an empty train that had stopped midway around the 14-loop ride. Richardson said the first responders appeared to be more concerned with clearing people away from the ride than reaching the injured passengers. Smiler crash victim Joe Pugh and girlfriend Leah Washington, who had her leg amputated, tweeted their "disgust". "The claimants' lawyer has confirmed to us that this is a purely procedural filing to preserve their clients' rights in relation to the standard three-year limitation period, and that certain claims are not yet ready for settlement due to their complex nature.". Joe Pugh, 18, also from Barnsley and Daniel Thorpe, 28, from Buxton, Derbyshire, also suffered serious leg injuries, along with 49-year-old Chandaben Chauhan. Alton Towers owner pleads guilty over Smiler rollercoaster crash Tom Whelton, who was on the Smiler hours before the crash, said his carriage got stuck on the rollercoasters first hill. Alton Towers victim Leah Washington shares pictures of her horror Brave Leah Washington, 19, was among 16 hurt when their carriage ploughed into another broken down on the 18million Smiler ride. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The payout is earmarked for a lifetime of physio, treatment and prosthetics. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Ukraine soldiers shoot down enemy drones with drones of their own, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Mark Gordon arrives at Crawley Police Station after remains found, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Martin Robinson, Uk Chief Reporter For Mailonline, Do not sell or share my personal information. He added that he had read all the victim impact statements. An investigation by the Staffordshire theme park in November 2015 found it had been caused by human error. Vicky was excited to speak about her wedding, saying: We are getting married in Italy, an intimate ceremony with friends and family. The harrowing story behind Alton Towers Smiler crash five years on Leahs mum Louise says: We cant afford the legs. A court hearing in April this year was told Merlin had conducted an internal investigation following the incident, which established that a worker manually 'overrode' the ride's governing computer system. Miss Balch, of Leyland, Lancashire, and Miss Washington, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, needed partial leg amputations after the crash. This is the horrifying moment The Smiler crashed at Alton Towers leaving 16 injured including two young women who later had legs amputated in the worst British rollercoaster crash for. In an interview in August, Washington described the blur of waking up in hospital and being told her left leg had been amputated and that it still had not sunk in. She told the Sunday Mirror: 'It will be very emotional and there will be lots of tears. They are my everything.'. I want lots of candles and fairylights.. Giving an example of the idiosyncratic approach, Mr Thorogood said one engineer who worked on the Smiler that day told investigators after the crash that he had 'assumed' the rollercoaster had been fitted with a type of safety trip-switch present on at least one other park ride, when in fact it had not. does not see the point in being angry about what happened. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Emergency services were still attempting to free the last of the trapped passengers four hours after the incident, using a specially constructed platform to reach the carriage. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Leah was on a date with boyfriend Joe Pugh, 18, when the accident happened, The teen's left leg was so badly crushed doctors amputated it below the knee, Those on the ride suffered injuries all over their bodies - here a badly cut finger is stitched up, A bloodied finger is pictured here as victims suffered horrific injuries in the crash, Leah's leg was left badly crushed and doctors were forced to amputate below the knee, Leah was speaking to Channel 5's documentary Where Theres Blame, Theres a Claim, Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd, which owns Alton Towers, reopened the Smiler rollercoaster after several months despite the horrific incident, Brave Leah said: 'I didnt think it would be as hard as it is. Two teenagers involved in the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash were on their first official date, it emerged today. ", Cash machine fraudsters target Staffordshire banks, Cold weather warning for possible snow showers, Man jailed following fatal hit and run which killed 'devoted mother' in Crewe, Council working on new tree planting policy amid claims existing rules preventing highways planting, Major bus operator announces it will 'step in and cover' Arriva services, China looks at reforms to deepen Xi's control, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Inside the enclave surrounded by pro-Russia forces, 'The nurses wanted me to feel guilty about my abortion, From Afghan TV fame to a US factory floor. I had to face that this was going to be something I was going to have to live with for the rest of my life. When is Eurovision and how do you get tickets? The photos were taken by a reporter from student news site The Tab during a bar crawl called the "7 Legged" on Monday night. It concluded that the defendant, Merlin, fell 'far short' when it came to governing the inevitable need for engineers from the park's technical service's department to fix faults on the ride. Where There's Blame There's A Claim features Leah Washington and Joe Pugh, Don't miss any TV and showbiz news - sign up to free alerts. He said: I just wanted to be there for her, taking her mind off things. Joe Pugh, 18, a student at Huddersfield University, and his girlfriend Leah Washington were among the victims. The women are suing Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd for negligence and or breach of statutory duty. I was told the average life expectancy of someone with an amputation. People ask if Im happy with it and its difficult to answer. They described the aftermath as being like something out of a "horror movie. Read about our approach to external linking. The Alton Towers spokeswoman said a full investigation would take place into the accident. Leah and Vicky Balch, of Leyland, Lancashire, who also lost a leg as a result of the crash, later announced they were suing Merlin for negligence and or breach of statutory duty. "Those individuals who have not yet settled their claims have received significant interim payments. Chandaben Chauhan (right) suffered internal injuries after being on a girls day out with her two daughters, one of whom accompanied her to court today, Entourage: The large legal team representing Alton Towers' owners Merlin file into Stafford Crown Court this morning. Their front carriage on The Smiler rollercoaster hit a broken-down carriage on the track with the force of a 90 mph car crash. I hope I get it right. Collision course: Swinging into the picture moments before impact on the left, the Smiler packed with people circled in blue on the right plummets towards the empty carriage circled in red, Carnage: The two trucks collide like a 90mph car crash and they became meshed together, crushing the people in the front row - two of whom later had legs amputated, Blunder: This footage seconds before the crash shows how the ride was stopped but then set off again when an engineer ignored a warning on the ride's computer system, Scale model: The Health and Safety Executive were able to plot the speed and power of the impact in Britain's worst rollercoaster crash for years. In a change of heart, the pair decided to rearrange their nuptials and planned their special day in Britain at the Bartle Hall Hotel near their home in Preston. For the latest news in and around Bristol, visit and bookmark Bristol Live's homepage. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Each of the top of the range legs with a microprocessor knee joint can cost up to 80,000 and last about eight years. Mr Thorogood, summing up that point, said 'engineers revealed a range of understandings to important aspects, which with a single system (of working) there would not be'. ", Harry: I always felt different to rest of family, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Mbappe breaks PSG goal record in win over Nantes, Walkie Talkie architect Rafael Violy dies aged 78, Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over. ASHBURN, Va. (7News) A tractor-trailer carrying 8,000 gallons of fuel overturned on Route 7 in Loudoun County early Wednesday morning, causing significant traffic delays. Read about our approach to external linking. Sixteen people were injured when their carriage collided with an empty one on a low section of the ride, which can reach speeds of up to 50mph. Read about our approach to external linking. A spokesperson for Alton Towers said: "From the outset we have sought to provide assistance and support to those that were injured and their families. Its not really a life, but it's something I'll have to live with', Leah says she is struggling with her training course because of her disability, Judge Michael Chambers QC described the accident Leah went through as a 'catastrophic failure', Alton Towers has only made interim payments to cover Leah's medical and physio bills - but the full compensation figure is still being assessed, Emergency services raced to the scene, which saw two victims lose a leg, Firefighters and emergency workers free passengers from the Smiler ride, Alton Towers victim Leah Washington shares pictures of her horror injuries as she reveals Im living in agony, Putin's thugs close in on ravaged Ukrainian city with thousands fleeing as intense fighting rages, Partygate buster Sue Gray's son 'boasting about mum on campaign trail as he tries to unseat Boris Johnson', Suella Braverman vows to stop the boats with new law to crack down on migrants using human rights laws to stay in UK, Runaway mum Constance Marten was 'groomed' by evil Nigerian sect leader, Man 'naked and covered in blood' arrested before mum found 'murdered' at home as neighbours reveal hearing screams, Rishi Sunaks new bill to end the Channel migrant crisis is crucial for the Tories, Right, Brexits done. Engineers then overrode a fault which had been detected by the computer system andsent the ride crashing into an empty carriage with the force of a '90mph car crash'. [3] Uk | HuffPost UK Leah dreamed of becoming a teacher, but she says that her disability is proving a barrier to the job she's always wanted. Its nothing like that. Read about our approach to external linking. Judge Michael Chambers QC said the crash on the 18m attraction was a "catastrophic failure and a "needless and avoidable accident in which those who were injured were lucky not to be killed.". Alton Towers Smiler crash victims pay tribute to Drayton Manor schoolgirl; Joe tells the documentary: "I could just see blood, bone . "The students involved further wish to apologise unreservedly to those affected by the Smiler incident for any offence or distress they may have unwittingly caused.". I'm so happy and excited for the rest of our lives together,' she told the Mirrorat the time. 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Leah, whose case should be resolved next year, will need money for the rest of her life. They could each receive "well in excess of 2m" in compensation if the High Court claim is successful. Lawyers said Meera Chauhan, 52, and her daughter Vanisha Singh, 33, from Walsall, who were also injured in the crash, were preparing their own legal battle. It has taken full responsibility for the incident and continues to co-operate with the ongoing Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation. Im not independent any more at all. Victims, many with visible scars, were at Stafford Crown Court for the two-day sentencing hearing and heard how a series of blunders led to the crash. The women are suing Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd for negligence and or breach of statutory duty. Leah Washington and Joe Pugh were both teenagers riding the Smiler when it crashed in. Then we were queueing up for another rollercoaster and an air ambulance flew over and news started filtering through and all the Alton Towers staff were evacuating the area.. A VICTIM of the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash told how she's living in agony and has been left constantly aching two years on from losing a leg in the smash. "The university expects to receive a full report from the SU on the conduct of the event on 17 October and the future of the event itself.". A couple seriously injured in a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers have announced their engagement. ITV Dancing On Ice judge Christopher announced Jayne is out of surgery - and it was a success. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Joe suffered shattered kneecaps in the accident. Something went wrong, please try again later. 2023 BBC. The victims screamed for help as they were left suspended in mid-air on the ride, which can reach speeds of up to 50mph, for several hours. Four people suffered serious leg injuries and were left suspended eight metres off the ground for several hours after a collision between two carriages on a rollercoaster at Alton Towers amusement park. The gorgeous bride married the love of her life Di She sometimes says thanks when I dont even notice Ive done anything extra. Man Charged 5 Months After Fatal Sterling Crash: Police Lawyers for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have said the 1.1-kilometre Smiler, which opened in 2013, never had 'a proper settled system' for staff to follow when carriages stopped on-track. The collision on the two-year-old attraction occurred when one carriage containing 16 visitors collided with an empty one on a low section of the track. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Vicky Balch, 23, and Leah Washington, 20, were in the front seats of the. Designer lookalike for a fraction of the cost. The carriages collided so hard the two became meshed together, crushing the limbs of people in the front row and sending the ride swinging back-and-forth like a pendulum.

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