Legal News

Alton Towers leisure park in Staffordshire is to remain closed during an investigation into a rollercoaster crash, which left four people with potentially life changing injuries.

BBC News reports that two carriages crashed on the Smiler ride at the theme park on Tuesday (02/06/15), leaving some passengers trapped for four-and-a-half hours.

It is thought the carriage they were travelling in collided with a stationery carriage on the track at around 2pm.

Those seriously injured include two men aged 27 and 18, as well a woman aged 19 and a girl aged 17, all of whom suffered serious leg injuries in the crash.

Emergency crews treated a further 12 people – six men and six women. A man in his 20s suffered neck and abdominal injuries in the incident.

Those who suffered critical injuries were taken by Air Ambulance to major trauma centres.

Emergency response workers said they had to rescue 16 occupants 25ft up in the air, where the carriage they were riding in came to rest at a 45-degree angle. The rescue operation only finished at 6.35pm.

A spokeswoman for the West Midlands Ambulance Service said:
”The 27-year-old male was then airlifted to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, while the others were flown to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further emergency treatment."

She added that the other occupants of the carriage had been released one at a time over a period of four hours – and were lowered to the ground, in order for a further assessment of their condition.

“One of the 12 – a male in his 20s – was treated for neck and abdominal injury and was taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital by land ambulance for further assessment and treatment.”

Alton Towers is run by Varney Entertainments – chief executive Nick Varney said:

“I would like to express my sincerest regret and apology to everyone who suffered injury and distress and to their families.

“The safety of our visitors is our primary concern. The park will remain closed until we understand better the cause of this dreadful incident.”

BBC News reports that there have been previous incidents involving the Smiler ride – in July 2013, the ride was closed for four days after a piece of track fell off. The ride also closed again in August 2013 because of a “technical issue”.

Before the launch of the ride, 16 journalists trying it out were left “dangling” at a steep angle when the ride came to halt.

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Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of personal injury solicitors able to advise on how to make a public liability claim for injuries sustained in public places such as theme parks, parks, theatres, shopping malls, agricultural shows, swimming baths and public events.
Personal injury claims have to be made within three years of the date of injury – and minors (those under 18) can claim public liability compensation for injuries up to the age of 21.
For expert legal advice on no win no fee Public Liability Claims, call Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors on 020 7923 4020.