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| Alton Towers crash: Injured teenagers named as former staff claim 'human error' may be to blame | Alton Towers crash: Injured teenagers named as former staff claim 'human error' may be to blame |
| (7 months later) | |
| Two of the teenagers seriously injured in a crash at Alton Towers have been named as the theme park's former employees claimed human error could have been to blame. | Two of the teenagers seriously injured in a crash at Alton Towers have been named as the theme park's former employees claimed human error could have been to blame. |
| Joe Pugh was one of four people hospitalised after the carriage he was riding in rammed into a stationary car on the track at around 20mph. | Joe Pugh was one of four people hospitalised after the carriage he was riding in rammed into a stationary car on the track at around 20mph. |
| The 18-year-old was reportedly sitting in the front row with his girlfriend, Leah Washington, 17, when the accident happened on Tuesday. | |
| Alton Towers’ official Twitter account had sent a message to Mr Pugh earlier in the day assuring him that all of its rides were open, adding: “We hope that you enjoy your visit!” | Alton Towers’ official Twitter account had sent a message to Mr Pugh earlier in the day assuring him that all of its rides were open, adding: “We hope that you enjoy your visit!” |
| The University of Huddersfield student, who studies textile design, sent a tweet shortly before midday saying that his foot was run over by a push chair within “two minutes” of arriving at the theme park. | The University of Huddersfield student, who studies textile design, sent a tweet shortly before midday saying that his foot was run over by a push chair within “two minutes” of arriving at the theme park. |
| Two hours later, he was one of 16 passengers in a carriage of The Smiler when it crashed into a cart sitting on the track after a test run at 2pm. | Two hours later, he was one of 16 passengers in a carriage of The Smiler when it crashed into a cart sitting on the track after a test run at 2pm. |
| A former Alton Towers employee told the Guardian that a “block system” run by sensors should have prevented two cars entering specific sections of track at the same time. | A former Alton Towers employee told the Guardian that a “block system” run by sensors should have prevented two cars entering specific sections of track at the same time. |
| “It looks like it will have been down to both human and mechanical error,” the person said. | |
| “Technically, it should be absolutely impossible for two cars to enter the same block, which is down to sensors run by a computer. | “Technically, it should be absolutely impossible for two cars to enter the same block, which is down to sensors run by a computer. |
| “But as horrible as it is to say, a member of staff should probably not have released the car from the station when an empty one hadn't made it back.” | “But as horrible as it is to say, a member of staff should probably not have released the car from the station when an empty one hadn't made it back.” |
| A spokesperson for Alton Towers said that she did not know whether human error or a computer glitch was at fault and a full investigation involving the Health and Safety Executive was underway. | A spokesperson for Alton Towers said that she did not know whether human error or a computer glitch was at fault and a full investigation involving the Health and Safety Executive was underway. |
| The Smiler, which cost £18 million and boasts a record-breaking 14 loops at speeds of over 50mph, has been beset by problems since its delayed opening in 2013. | The Smiler, which cost £18 million and boasts a record-breaking 14 loops at speeds of over 50mph, has been beset by problems since its delayed opening in 2013. |
| Nick Varney, chief executive of park owners Merlin Entertainments, had previously admitted that the two carriages should not have been on the same piece of track and that a fail-safe “didn't work the way it was supposed to”. | Nick Varney, chief executive of park owners Merlin Entertainments, had previously admitted that the two carriages should not have been on the same piece of track and that a fail-safe “didn't work the way it was supposed to”. |
| He added: “This has been a terrible incident and a devastating day for everyone here. We have a very strong record of safe operation of our rides here at Alton Towers and it is our priority. | He added: “This has been a terrible incident and a devastating day for everyone here. We have a very strong record of safe operation of our rides here at Alton Towers and it is our priority. |
| “I would like to express my sincerest regret and apology to everyone who suffered injury and distress and to their families.” | “I would like to express my sincerest regret and apology to everyone who suffered injury and distress and to their families.” |
| One injured rider has been discharged from the Royal Stoke University Hospital, where Mr Pugh, Ms Washington, a 27-year-old and a 19-year-old woman, were being treated for serious leg injuries. | One injured rider has been discharged from the Royal Stoke University Hospital, where Mr Pugh, Ms Washington, a 27-year-old and a 19-year-old woman, were being treated for serious leg injuries. |
| Mr Pugh is believed to have suffered two broken legs, while his girlfriend needed emergency surgery, The Star reported. | Mr Pugh is believed to have suffered two broken legs, while his girlfriend needed emergency surgery, The Star reported. |
| Mr Pugh, from Barnsley, works at the Oaks Working Men's Club in the South Yorkshire town. | Mr Pugh, from Barnsley, works at the Oaks Working Men's Club in the South Yorkshire town. |
| In a statement on its Facebook page, the club said: “After hearing the news about the terrible accident at Alton Towers, it has to come to our attention that a member of our staff was involved. | In a statement on its Facebook page, the club said: “After hearing the news about the terrible accident at Alton Towers, it has to come to our attention that a member of our staff was involved. |
| "We at the Oaks WMC would like to extend our prayers and best wishes in the speedy recovery of our barman Joe Pugh and his girlfriend Leah Washington. | "We at the Oaks WMC would like to extend our prayers and best wishes in the speedy recovery of our barman Joe Pugh and his girlfriend Leah Washington. |
| "Please be respectful of the families' wishes as we don't have all the details of the incident as their attention will be focused on Joe and Leah's recovery. | "Please be respectful of the families' wishes as we don't have all the details of the incident as their attention will be focused on Joe and Leah's recovery. |
| "All we hope is that they both recover and we have Joe back behind the bar as soon as possible." | |
| Friends on Twitter expressed their shock at the accident. | Friends on Twitter expressed their shock at the accident. |
| One person wrote that they “can’t believe” what happened, adding: “Get well soon pal.” | One person wrote that they “can’t believe” what happened, adding: “Get well soon pal.” |
| "Cannot actually believe what's happened!” another wrote. “Get well very soon, Joe Pugh. Just seen you on the news, can't miss that jacket. Ha ha! Love you." | "Cannot actually believe what's happened!” another wrote. “Get well very soon, Joe Pugh. Just seen you on the news, can't miss that jacket. Ha ha! Love you." |
| Alton Towers will remain closed tomorrow as investigations continue. | Alton Towers will remain closed tomorrow as investigations continue. |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |