Alton Towers rollercoaster reopens just nine months after horror crash
HUNDREDS of thrill-seekers flocked to ride the Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers yesterday as it reopened just nine months after two women each lost a leg in a horrific accident.
The decision to allow visitors on the attraction so soon was criticised by victims of last June’s crash, when a full carriage travelling at 80kph smashed into a second, empty, vehicle.
But that did not stop people waiting for up to 90 minutes to get back on the £18m rollercoaster yesterday – and there were cheers when it restarted at 11am.
Merlin Attractions Operations, the owner of the British theme park, is facing a criminal prosecution over the accident to be heard next month, which investigators have said was caused by human error.
Among the casualties was student Leah Washington, 18, who had to have her left leg amputated. Her boyfriend, Joe Pugh, 19, was left with shattered kneecaps, while dancer Vicky Balch, 20, had her right leg amputated below the knee. In all, 16 people were hurt.
Miss Balch said on Friday: ‘It’s only been nine months. It feels like money comes before the people on the ride.’ Mr Pugh added: ‘I would have preferred for it to stay closed.’
Alton Towers said it had sought to learn ‘every possible lesson’ from last June’s crash and that it had made improvements to staff training.