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| Alton Towers crash: Four teenagers seriously injured and 16 guests trapped as Smiler ride carriages collide | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Four teenagers have been seriously injured after two carriages crashed into each other on a ride at Alton Towers | Four teenagers have been seriously injured after two carriages crashed into each other on a ride at Alton Towers |
| Park officials confirmed that two males and two females were injured and said that the fire service and paramedics, including an air ambulance, had been called to the scene. | Park officials confirmed that two males and two females were injured and said that the fire service and paramedics, including an air ambulance, had been called to the scene. |
| A spokesperson for Alton Towers said there were 16 people involved in the incident "on a low section of the track", which occurred between a full carriage and one that was empty. | A spokesperson for Alton Towers said there were 16 people involved in the incident "on a low section of the track", which occurred between a full carriage and one that was empty. |
| West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was trying to assess all those on board the ride, but that the four most serious casualties were two females and two males in their late teens. | West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was trying to assess all those on board the ride, but that the four most serious casualties were two females and two males in their late teens. |
| A spokesman told The Independent that all four were breathing and conscious but had suffered serious leg injuries. | A spokesman told The Independent that all four were breathing and conscious but had suffered serious leg injuries. |
| "A platform has been build up in order for emergency services to reach the occupants on the ride who are a pproximately 25 feet up in the air at an angle of about 45 degrees," the service said in a statement. | "A platform has been build up in order for emergency services to reach the occupants on the ride who are a pproximately 25 feet up in the air at an angle of about 45 degrees," the service said in a statement. |
| "Our paramedics, doctors, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Alton Towers’ rope rescue staff are working at height to carefully release and treat the four seriously injured teenagers." | "Our paramedics, doctors, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Alton Towers’ rope rescue staff are working at height to carefully release and treat the four seriously injured teenagers." |
| A witness on the scene visiting the theme park, Danny Simm, said there was "blood everywhere". | A witness on the scene visiting the theme park, Danny Simm, said there was "blood everywhere". |
| Mr Simm told The Independent: "A few people appeared to be injured but one man looked serious. Out of respect I didn't take any photographs. | Mr Simm told The Independent: "A few people appeared to be injured but one man looked serious. Out of respect I didn't take any photographs. |
| "An air ambulance arrived after 25 minutes. It wasn't handled well by Alton Towers staff." | "An air ambulance arrived after 25 minutes. It wasn't handled well by Alton Towers staff." |
| Mr Simm said park guests remained trapped on the ride. An ambulance service spokeswoman said: "Staff and medics are working quickly with resort staff to gain access to the seriously injured." | Mr Simm said park guests remained trapped on the ride. An ambulance service spokeswoman said: "Staff and medics are working quickly with resort staff to gain access to the seriously injured." |
| Been a fan of #altontowers for 15 years but I am outraged about what's just happened. Two cars crashing on #smiler pic.twitter.com/UYhOdhSZv6 | Been a fan of #altontowers for 15 years but I am outraged about what's just happened. Two cars crashing on #smiler pic.twitter.com/UYhOdhSZv6 |
| At Alton Towers & The Smiler is broken down, gutted for everybody on there. #altontowers #themepark #england pic.twitter.com/6ld89AAxVo | At Alton Towers & The Smiler is broken down, gutted for everybody on there. #altontowers #themepark #england pic.twitter.com/6ld89AAxVo |
| Smiler coasters have just crashed! Watch this space. #Altontowers #gotwhiplashwatching pic.twitter.com/xYRMRO9h7I | Smiler coasters have just crashed! Watch this space. #Altontowers #gotwhiplashwatching pic.twitter.com/xYRMRO9h7I |
| @altontowers not what I expected to see today.. 2 carriage crashed into each other on the Smiler!!! #notgood! pic.twitter.com/aX8mBDaX7K | @altontowers not what I expected to see today.. 2 carriage crashed into each other on the Smiler!!! #notgood! pic.twitter.com/aX8mBDaX7K |
| Lucy Farrugia, another visitor, said the ride had already broken down earlier in the day. She said: "Smiler broke down when I was on it this morning and now it's crashed. Hope everyone on it is OK, saw the air ambulance arrive." | Lucy Farrugia, another visitor, said the ride had already broken down earlier in the day. She said: "Smiler broke down when I was on it this morning and now it's crashed. Hope everyone on it is OK, saw the air ambulance arrive." |
| Witness Ben Richardson, who had also been on the ride earlier in the day, told BBC News the empty carriage appeared to have been sent round to test the system and was static when the one carrying passengers was sent along the rollercoaster at "around 50mph". | Witness Ben Richardson, who had also been on the ride earlier in the day, told BBC News the empty carriage appeared to have been sent round to test the system and was static when the one carrying passengers was sent along the rollercoaster at "around 50mph". |
| He said: "On the second carriage people were screaming and shouting. Even after it had stopped there was screaming and shouting. Everyone was shocked and no-one knew what to do. It was a bit erratic and there was quickly a large crowd there." | He said: "On the second carriage people were screaming and shouting. Even after it had stopped there was screaming and shouting. Everyone was shocked and no-one knew what to do. It was a bit erratic and there was quickly a large crowd there." |
| Kirsty Wild said she was in the queue for the ride when the crash happened, and that she was "outraged" by the incident. | Kirsty Wild said she was in the queue for the ride when the crash happened, and that she was "outraged" by the incident. |
| "The cars were stationary and someone let them go to collide into empty cars. It's disgusting. I was almost in tears hearing that bang." | "The cars were stationary and someone let them go to collide into empty cars. It's disgusting. I was almost in tears hearing that bang." |
| An Alton Towers spokeswoman said: "The resort's fully qualified first responders were on the scene immediately to assist with the evacuation which is ongoing, and the area has been closed to allow for access to emergency services vehicles. | An Alton Towers spokeswoman said: "The resort's fully qualified first responders were on the scene immediately to assist with the evacuation which is ongoing, and the area has been closed to allow for access to emergency services vehicles. |
| "To ensure the safe and timely evacuation of guests a platform is being constructed. This will take a few minutes but will enable us to proceed more quickly. | "To ensure the safe and timely evacuation of guests a platform is being constructed. This will take a few minutes but will enable us to proceed more quickly. |
| "There will be a full investigation once we have recovered the guests who are our priority." | "There will be a full investigation once we have recovered the guests who are our priority." |
| The Smiler opened in May 2013 and is billed as the world's first 14 loop rollercoaster. | The Smiler opened in May 2013 and is billed as the world's first 14 loop rollercoaster. |
| It holds the official Guinness World Record for most loops in a rollercoaster, according to the Alton Towers website. | It holds the official Guinness World Record for most loops in a rollercoaster, according to the Alton Towers website. |
| In July 2013, the ride was closed after reports that a bolt was seen to have fallen from the track. | In July 2013, the ride was closed after reports that a bolt was seen to have fallen from the track. |
| And in November that year the rollercoaster was again closed after plastic guard wheels came loose and hit front row riders. | And in November that year the rollercoaster was again closed after plastic guard wheels came loose and hit front row riders. |