Post by Admin on Jun 2, 2015 19:07:12 GMT
Carriages Crash On Alton Towers 'Smiler' Ride: one of 3 Separate Incidents:
Tuesday June 2, 2015
news.sky.com/story/1494944/carriages-crash-on-alton-towers-smiler-ride
Tuesday 23 July 2013
news.sky.com/story/1119353/alton-towers-closes-smiler-ride-over-bolt
Sunday 03 November 2013
news.sky.com/story/1163263/alton-towers-shuts-smiler-after-wheels-fall-off
:::::::::::::Tuesday June 2, 2015:::::::::::::::::::::::::
Four teenagers have been seriously injured after two carriages on The Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers collided.
Sixteen people were riding in one carriage on the attraction when the crash happened just after 2pm, according to West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS).
It is believed the passengers crashed into an empty stationary carriage, with those hurt still stuck on the ride, 25ft in the air, at a 45 degree angle.
WMAS spokesman Steve Parry said the four most severely injured teenagers included two male and two female casualties, "who suffered serious leg injuries in the incident and are receiving treatment as we speak."
"The other twelve occupants of the ride are not thought to be seriously injured," he said.
"A platform has been built up in order for emergency services to reach the occupants on the ride, who are approximately 25 feet up in the air at an angle of about 45 degrees."
He said he was unable to confirm reports that one person had died.
"Once released from the ride, all four seriously injured teenagers will be airlifted to major trauma centres at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire and Royal Stoke University Hospital for further emergency treatment."
Staffordshire's Fire and Rescue Service has sent four pumps, an aerial ladder, a rescue tender and rope rescue to the scene of the accident.
Danny Simm, who was at the Staffordshire theme park when the accident happened, tweeted: "People unconscious, knocked out. Blood everywhere. It really was shocking. Air ambulances landing now, people still stuck."
Lloyd Coller, who was visiting Alton Towers for the day, told Sky News: "I didn’t actually see it but I heard it. It sounded exactly like a car crash – just metal on metal."
Another witness, Tom Whelton, said that The Smiler had broken down three hours earlier following technical difficulties when he was on the ride.
"When we got stuck on The Smiler ... we were at the bottom of the first hill and they sent a train down behind us, which I thought was a bit strange," he said.
"We went about half-way across the park and we heard a big bang and we didn't know what it was."
An air ambulance has arrived at the scene with a trauma doctor on board, and everyone on board the ride is receiving triage.
Four road ambulances, accompanied by senior paramedic managers, have also arrived on the scene to cope with the potential casualties.
A spokeswoman added: "Ambulance staff and medics are working quickly with resort staff to gain access to the seriously injured."
In a statement, Alton Towers said a platform had been constructed to ensure the "safe and timely evacuation of guests".
"There has been an incident on the Smiler this afternoon involving two carriages coming together on a low section of the track," the statement said.
"One of the carriages was empty and the other had 16 guests in.
"The emergency services including the air ambulance are now in attendance and are assisting resort staff as they work to evacuate those 16 people still on the ride.
"We can confirm that four guests have sustained serious injuries, and they are being treated at the scene until they can be evacuated.
"There will be a full investigation once we have recovered the guests, which is our priority."
According to the official website of The Smiler, the £18m ride is the world's first 14 looping rollercoaster.
It opened in May 2013 - and the ride was affected by two incidents within the space of just six months.
Two months after it opened, in July, a metal bolt fell off the ride - leaving a gap in the track. Some 48 people had to be rescued.
Then, in November 2013, passengers sitting in the front seats of the ride were hit when several of the rollercoaster's wheels fell off.
This appears to be the seventh incident since The Smiler opened to the public which has led to the rollercoaster being closed for repairs, reviews or accidents.
The resort claims the ride features "a series of twisted psychological effects including optical illusions, blinding lights and near-misses designed to mess with your mind".
It can travel at top speeds of 53mph, and its highest drop is 98ft. In total, the 3,838ft ride lasts for nearly three minutes.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Tuesday 23 July 2013::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Alton Towers has shut down its new multimillion-pound roller coaster amid reports of a metal bolt falling off the ride.
Visitors queuing for the £18m Smiler ride, which opened in May, claim they saw a piece of metal break away and land near them, leaving a gap in the track on Sunday.
Some 48 people had to be rescued from the ride, which was then closed so technical teams could investigate.
Fiona Gilbert, 20, from Wolverhampton, said: "We were stood there when all of a sudden we heard a massive clanging sound.
"We turned around and there was a metal bar not even a metre away on the floor behind us. It was just under one foot long and about two inches thick."
The Staffordshire amusement park confirmed it had closed the ride while its technical team examined the roller coaster.
"On Sunday 21st July, in line with our standard procedures, Alton Towers Resort closed The Smiler to investigate a small piece of debris that had allegedly fallen from the track," said an Alton Towers spokesperson.
"At no time was any visitor at any risk, and 48 guests on the ride at the time were safely disembarked.
"As the health and safety of our guests is our primary concern, the ride will remain closed whilst the resort's technical team investigate."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Sunday 03 November 2013:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A theme park has closed its new £18m rollercoaster after several of its wheels fell off and hit guests on the ride.
The 14-loop Smiler attraction at Alton Towers was being pulled up an incline when a number of the small, plastic guide wheels came loose.
The wheels, which are used to keep the chain inside the chain guard, were caught by safety netting but some were flicked up on to the ride, hitting those sat in the front seats.
A spokesman for the Staffordshire theme park confirmed two guests were attended to by staff but did not need to leave the park.
"As you would expect ... all of the rides and attractions are expected to meet extremely high standards, technologically, mechanically and in terms of the end experience," the spokesman said.
"A full investigation is now on-going to determine when the ride can re-open."
It is the second time since its opening on May 31 that The Smiler has been closed because of falling parts.
It was shut for five days in July when a small piece of track came off, leaving dozens of people stuck on the ride.
The latest closure was met with disappointment on Twitter by people visiting the park on the last day of the half term holidays.
Craig Campbell wrote: "What an absolute joke! Smiler is shut again! Only came back because it was shut the last time. Alton Towers get it together."
Sophie Bucky added: "The Smiler is closed all day. So annoyed."
The spokesman for Alton Towers said the park was "very sorry for any disappointment" caused by the temporary closure but added: "The health and safety of all of our visitors is our absolute priority."
Tuesday June 2, 2015
news.sky.com/story/1494944/carriages-crash-on-alton-towers-smiler-ride
Tuesday 23 July 2013
news.sky.com/story/1119353/alton-towers-closes-smiler-ride-over-bolt
Sunday 03 November 2013
news.sky.com/story/1163263/alton-towers-shuts-smiler-after-wheels-fall-off
:::::::::::::Tuesday June 2, 2015:::::::::::::::::::::::::
Four teenagers have been seriously injured after two carriages on The Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers collided.
Sixteen people were riding in one carriage on the attraction when the crash happened just after 2pm, according to West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS).
It is believed the passengers crashed into an empty stationary carriage, with those hurt still stuck on the ride, 25ft in the air, at a 45 degree angle.
WMAS spokesman Steve Parry said the four most severely injured teenagers included two male and two female casualties, "who suffered serious leg injuries in the incident and are receiving treatment as we speak."
"The other twelve occupants of the ride are not thought to be seriously injured," he said.
"A platform has been built up in order for emergency services to reach the occupants on the ride, who are approximately 25 feet up in the air at an angle of about 45 degrees."
He said he was unable to confirm reports that one person had died.
"Once released from the ride, all four seriously injured teenagers will be airlifted to major trauma centres at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire and Royal Stoke University Hospital for further emergency treatment."
Staffordshire's Fire and Rescue Service has sent four pumps, an aerial ladder, a rescue tender and rope rescue to the scene of the accident.
Danny Simm, who was at the Staffordshire theme park when the accident happened, tweeted: "People unconscious, knocked out. Blood everywhere. It really was shocking. Air ambulances landing now, people still stuck."
Lloyd Coller, who was visiting Alton Towers for the day, told Sky News: "I didn’t actually see it but I heard it. It sounded exactly like a car crash – just metal on metal."
Another witness, Tom Whelton, said that The Smiler had broken down three hours earlier following technical difficulties when he was on the ride.
"When we got stuck on The Smiler ... we were at the bottom of the first hill and they sent a train down behind us, which I thought was a bit strange," he said.
"We went about half-way across the park and we heard a big bang and we didn't know what it was."
An air ambulance has arrived at the scene with a trauma doctor on board, and everyone on board the ride is receiving triage.
Four road ambulances, accompanied by senior paramedic managers, have also arrived on the scene to cope with the potential casualties.
A spokeswoman added: "Ambulance staff and medics are working quickly with resort staff to gain access to the seriously injured."
In a statement, Alton Towers said a platform had been constructed to ensure the "safe and timely evacuation of guests".
"There has been an incident on the Smiler this afternoon involving two carriages coming together on a low section of the track," the statement said.
"One of the carriages was empty and the other had 16 guests in.
"The emergency services including the air ambulance are now in attendance and are assisting resort staff as they work to evacuate those 16 people still on the ride.
"We can confirm that four guests have sustained serious injuries, and they are being treated at the scene until they can be evacuated.
"There will be a full investigation once we have recovered the guests, which is our priority."
According to the official website of The Smiler, the £18m ride is the world's first 14 looping rollercoaster.
It opened in May 2013 - and the ride was affected by two incidents within the space of just six months.
Two months after it opened, in July, a metal bolt fell off the ride - leaving a gap in the track. Some 48 people had to be rescued.
Then, in November 2013, passengers sitting in the front seats of the ride were hit when several of the rollercoaster's wheels fell off.
This appears to be the seventh incident since The Smiler opened to the public which has led to the rollercoaster being closed for repairs, reviews or accidents.
The resort claims the ride features "a series of twisted psychological effects including optical illusions, blinding lights and near-misses designed to mess with your mind".
It can travel at top speeds of 53mph, and its highest drop is 98ft. In total, the 3,838ft ride lasts for nearly three minutes.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Tuesday 23 July 2013::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Alton Towers has shut down its new multimillion-pound roller coaster amid reports of a metal bolt falling off the ride.
Visitors queuing for the £18m Smiler ride, which opened in May, claim they saw a piece of metal break away and land near them, leaving a gap in the track on Sunday.
Some 48 people had to be rescued from the ride, which was then closed so technical teams could investigate.
Fiona Gilbert, 20, from Wolverhampton, said: "We were stood there when all of a sudden we heard a massive clanging sound.
"We turned around and there was a metal bar not even a metre away on the floor behind us. It was just under one foot long and about two inches thick."
The Staffordshire amusement park confirmed it had closed the ride while its technical team examined the roller coaster.
"On Sunday 21st July, in line with our standard procedures, Alton Towers Resort closed The Smiler to investigate a small piece of debris that had allegedly fallen from the track," said an Alton Towers spokesperson.
"At no time was any visitor at any risk, and 48 guests on the ride at the time were safely disembarked.
"As the health and safety of our guests is our primary concern, the ride will remain closed whilst the resort's technical team investigate."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Sunday 03 November 2013:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A theme park has closed its new £18m rollercoaster after several of its wheels fell off and hit guests on the ride.
The 14-loop Smiler attraction at Alton Towers was being pulled up an incline when a number of the small, plastic guide wheels came loose.
The wheels, which are used to keep the chain inside the chain guard, were caught by safety netting but some were flicked up on to the ride, hitting those sat in the front seats.
A spokesman for the Staffordshire theme park confirmed two guests were attended to by staff but did not need to leave the park.
"As you would expect ... all of the rides and attractions are expected to meet extremely high standards, technologically, mechanically and in terms of the end experience," the spokesman said.
"A full investigation is now on-going to determine when the ride can re-open."
It is the second time since its opening on May 31 that The Smiler has been closed because of falling parts.
It was shut for five days in July when a small piece of track came off, leaving dozens of people stuck on the ride.
The latest closure was met with disappointment on Twitter by people visiting the park on the last day of the half term holidays.
Craig Campbell wrote: "What an absolute joke! Smiler is shut again! Only came back because it was shut the last time. Alton Towers get it together."
Sophie Bucky added: "The Smiler is closed all day. So annoyed."
The spokesman for Alton Towers said the park was "very sorry for any disappointment" caused by the temporary closure but added: "The health and safety of all of our visitors is our absolute priority."