NEW FUN RIDE HELL
EIGHT children and two adults were injured when a rollercoaster jumped the tracks and plunged 30ft on to a kiddies’ ride at a theme park yesterday.
Witnesses described the scene as “like a horror movie” after a carriage from the 40mph Tsunami ride flew through the air. It smashed on to a children’s “motorbike” ride below – although it is not known if this was in operation at the time.
A number of rides were closed at the M&D’s park in Motherwell, Strathclyde, because of bad weather. Eye-witness Gavin McNally said: “It’s carnage. The Tsunami plunged off the rails at a corner. It would be a miracle if there are no fatalities.”
Firefighters rushed to the scene and witnesses helped them to lift the carriage to release people trapped underneath.
A fleet of ambulances took 10 casualties from the ride to hospital but it is not known if any were seriously hurt.
Police said they were all being treated for their injuries last night.
Caitlyn Barnes, 13, was standing nearby when the accident happened.
She said: “I heard a loud bang and I turned around and saw the carriage just hurtling to the ground. I could see about 10 people trapped upside down.”
This is the eighth accident at the Strathclyde Park attraction since 2011.
In 2011, nine people were rescued from the Tsunami ride after being trapped for eight hours 60ft from the ground.
And in March this year, eight people had to be rescued from the park’s Tornado rollercoaster when it stopped 20ft off the ground.
Yesterday’s drama follows the Smiler ride horror crash at Alton Towers a year ago. Five people were severely injured, including two girls who had to have legs amputated.