as being like something out of a "horror movie. The dress helped me decide on a theme its very fairytale. Alton Towers Smiler crash Thrill-seekers left with devastating injuries All 16 people were eventually freed from the carriage. Vicky Balch is now going to focus on planning her wedding, Sign up to our free email alerts for the top Bristol Voices stories sent straight to your e-mail. The prosecution went on to say that none of the four engineers involved in working on the Smiler 'had the full picture or understanding of conditions on the ride'. A law firm representing eight of those injured when two carriages of the Smiler ride crashed. He said settlements relied on receiving certain information from claimants, and Merlin had "provided appropriate support including interim payments while the assessments continue". Putting names to archive photos, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, In photos: India's disappearing single-screen cinemas. Joe Pugh, 18, also from Barnsley and Daniel Thorpe, 28, from Buxton, Derbyshire, also suffered serious leg injuries, along with 49-year-old Chandaben Chauhan. Joe suffered shattered kneecaps in the accident. It has been closed twice before because of technical issues. We are confident that lessons have been learned and that appropriate action has been taken to address all the issues raised by our investigation and we believe our core conclusions will be in line with the HSE findings., Paul Paxton, a partner at the law firm Stewarts Law, which is acting for Pugh, Washington and Balch, said it was too early to comment until the conclusion of the HSE investigation. 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Alton Towers owners, Merlin, admitted being at fault and a 5 million fine was imposed by the courts. It faces a multi-million pound fine and potentially millions more in compensation claims from the victims following a Health and Safety Executive prosecution. Leah Washington (left) and Vicky Balch were both badly injured on the ride. Leah's leg was later amputated and Joe had shattered knees. The investigation also identified areas where protocols and the training of employees should be improved. At the beginning of Monday's hearing, Judge Chambers said: 'One of the features is not just the impact on those injured, but on those close to them.'. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Leah Washington, 18, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, and Vicky Balch, 20, from Leyland, Lancashire, were both forced to undergo leg amputations as a result of the horror crash. The website reads: Not for the faint-hearted, this new ride at Alton Towers features a series of twisted psychological effects including optical illusions, blinding lights and near misses designed to mess with your mind.. We went halfway across the park and then we heard a big bang. People just standing around in bewilderment really.. Merlin Entertainments said the ride. They are my everything.'. Speaking on their behalf, Simon Antrobus, defending, said: 'They wish me to deliver an apology to the court and to those injured and affected by this ride. The women are suing Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd for negligence and or breach of statutory duty. pic.twitter.com/6torYa0DzW. Two women who lost legs after a crash on a ride at Alton Towers are suing the park's owners, their lawyers have said. Read about our approach to external linking. 2023 BBC. Im slowly getting that back, but life is never going to be the same as it used to be.. Beautician Vicky Balch was one of 16 people injured when an empty. Washington has said she feared she would die in the moments after the crash when she looked down and saw metal bars protruding into her legs. No amount will give me my leg back or the life I would have had.. 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"I didnt think it would be as hard as it is. The Smiler ride at Alton Towers Read More Related Articles. The gorgeous bride married the love of her life Di Leah, who is facing fresh surgery on her leg in September, said: "They said it would take up to three years, so were still waiting to hear. Its entirely possible that Leahs claim will run into millions., And Leah says: You cant put a price on losing a limb. He . Lawyers said Meera Chauhan, 52, and her daughter Vanisha Singh, 33, from Walsall, who were also injured in the crash, were preparing their own legal battle. Brave Leah Washington, 19, was among 16 hurt when their carriage ploughed into another broken down on the 18million Smiler ride. Alton Towers crash victim has collapsed lung and fractured leg Daniel Thorpe, 27, was named on social media by his father as having been in front row of Smiler ride when it collided with test. Daniel Thorpe, 27, from Buxton in Derbyshire, was treated for a collapsed lung and lower leg injuries. Vicky Balch, 23, and Leah Washington, 20, were in the front seats of the. Incredibly it emerged that today staff running ride at Alton Towers had not read the ride's operating manual and then took 17 minutes to dial 999. The victims of the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash have been pictured together for the first time since the horrific incident. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Two women were transferred to the Royal Stoke University hospital and two men were taken to hospitals in Coventry and Warwickshire. Alton Towers owner fined 5m over Smiler rollercaster crash, Alton Towers owner pleads guilty over Smiler rollercoaster crash, Alton Towers crash victim says bionic leg has transformed her life, Alton Towers Smiler crash footage released for first time, Alton Towers ride reopens despite protests, Alton Towers Smiler ride crash caused by human error, theme park says, Moment of Alton Towers Smiler crash CCTV video, Alton Towers crash victim learns to walk again on prosthetic leg video, Alton Towers crash victim says amputation was a relief, Alton Towers Smiler ride victims meet 'amazing' rescuers at ceremony. Miss Balch has said she does not see the point in being angry about what happened. Mr Thorogood said: 'One first empty train was sent to establish the lift was operating normally but, unknown to those present, this train failed to clear the loop - with which this case is unfortunately and sadly concerned. Joe, who broke both kneecaps and had his little finger snapped off by The Smiler ride accident , has received an estimated 100,000 pay-off, while Leah Washington, whose left leg was badly crushed and amputated above the knee, should receive more than 2 million. The Smiler ride itself, it was concluded, was 'well-designed' as were the computer and 'sophisticated' control systems, while the operator of the ride had followed safe working practices. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Alton Towers owner fined 5m over Smiler rollercaster crash, Alton Towers owner pleads guilty over Smiler rollercoaster crash, Alton Towers crash victim says bionic leg has transformed her life, Alton Towers Smiler crash footage released for first time, Alton Towers ride reopens despite protests, Moment of Alton Towers Smiler crash CCTV video, Alton Towers crash victim learns to walk again on prosthetic leg video, Alton Towers crash victim says amputation was a relief, Alton Towers Smiler ride victims meet 'amazing' rescuers at ceremony, Alton Towers: footage of ride seconds after crash - video, Alton Towers crash victim Leah Washington feared she would die on the Smiler. At least 16 were injured and five people were seriously hurt when it smashed into a broken down carriage after a series of blunders. Good luck to all the teenagers involved. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Alton Towers Smiler crash victims Vicky Balch and Leah Washington sue theme park owners for millions of pounds. The accident in June 2015 was put down to human error and Alton Towers owner Merlin Attractions was fined 5million for health and safety breaches. Vicky shared the happy news on social media in a post that read: 'Finally ready to introduce the newest member of our family Venanzio Joseph Manciocchi born 12/3/2021 after an emotional rollercoaster which ended in emergency C-Section and 3 nights in Neo-natal the family is finally home and ready to enjoy many memories @dinomanciocchi.'. Each of the top of the range legs with a microprocessor knee joint can cost up to 80,000 and last about eight years. Do you know this baby? 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Alton Towers owner, Merlin Entertainments, saw its share price plunge when it emerged the Smiler had been involved in a collision. Passengers had to be cut free from wreckage and airlifted to hospital after carriage carrying 16 passengers collided with empty one It concluded that the defendant, Merlin, fell 'far short' when it came to governing the inevitable need for engineers from the park's technical service's department to fix faults on the ride. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The collision on the two-year-old attraction occurred when one carriage containing 16 visitors collided with an empty one on a low section of the track. In a statement, the University of Nottingham Students' Union, said: "The costume was in no way intended to reference the tragedy that occurred on the Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers. Prosecutors revealed the weather should have shut down the ride and engineers were ill-equipped to deal with the aftermath. "The university is aware of the SU's initial investigations regarding this matter and its media statement issued today," it said. 'The problem was that the head-wind which that train could not overcome. Merlin said it was "on standby to conclude settlement discussions on the outstanding claims as soon as they are ready". Sixteen people were injured in the June 2015 crash, including two teenage girls who needed leg amputations. Air ambulances landing now, people still stuck.. The men and women, some of whom could have been killed, faced the theme park's bosses who were told they could face a 10million fine - plus compensation to its victims - for the disaster on June 2, 2015. I had to think about the help Id need, even at the end of my life. She has described the "stressful and depressing" journey to get compensation but is now focusing on planning her wedding. Richardson said the first responders appeared to be more concerned with clearing people away from the ride than reaching the injured passengers. Its been four-and-a-half years. Victims who lost limbs, broke bones and suffered internal injuries in the disaster relieved their ordeal as they faced the theme park's bosses at Stafford Crown Court today. 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In its investigation, the safety watchdog found that a 'near-gale' may have been to blame for the empty carriage failing to clear the Cobra Loop in the first place, following an early problem with one of the ride's lifts. Its nothing like that. However, he added that there was 'absolutely no evidence of a task analysis-based approach for engineering work, in particular in dealing with ride faults'. 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Sixteen people were injured in the crash in June 2015, including Ms Washington and Vicky Balch, who both needed leg amputations. Both have been undergoing rehabilitation for their injuries. When is Eurovision and how do you get tickets? The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Two women who lost legs after a crash on a ride at Alton Towers are suing the park's owners, their lawyers have said. After that, we didnt really know what it was, then it started filtering through that something bad had happened. Now we can focus fully on that.. Blood everywhere. Aerial footage from the scene of a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers amusement park. My life as a wife and mum will be so different now. The payout is earmarked for a lifetime of physio, treatment and prosthetics. Leah Washington told her 26,000 Instagram followers about the engagement, Joe Pugh, who was 19 when the crash happened, and Leah Washington, then 18, continued dating, Harry: I always felt different to rest of family, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Mbappe breaks PSG goal record in win over Nantes, Walkie Talkie architect Rafael Violy dies aged 78, Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over. Four people were seriously hurt after two carriages on the Smiler rollercoaster collided at the theme park yesterday. Ben Richardson, who posted pictures on Twitter of the crashed rollercoaster, told the BBC the collision sounded like car crash it was very full on. Miss Balch, of Leyland, Lancashire, and Miss Washington, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, needed partial leg amputations after the crash. When is Eurovision and how do you get tickets? What science tells us about the afterlife. By Martin Robinson, Uk Chief Reporter For Mailonline, Published: 05:33 EST, 26 September 2016 | Updated: 15:25 EST, 26 September 2016. Vicky and Dino, who got engaged in December 2018 after a year of dating, had originally planned to tie the knot inFlorence in September last year, however they had to put their nuptials on hold following the ongoing pandemic. But the company has been criticised for putting profits over people and keeping the ride open even in the face of the appalling injuries sustained on it. Sixteen people had to be rescued after it broke down during a press launch in its opening month. Alton Towers Smiler Victims Pictured Together For The First Time Since Crash; Modern World Driving Children to Despair. The four most seriously injured were rescued first. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 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The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Some of the passengers sustained life-changing injuries. What science tells us about the afterlife. The mother-of-one said she was 'emotional' on the lead up to the big day and 'wouldn't change' anything about her life because she wouldn't have her beloved husband or their son, who is also known as Vinnie. Box 7200, Leesburg, VA 20177 Indicating a guilty plea to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act, Merlin's barrister told the previous hearing that the company accepted additional measures could have been taken to guard against safety risks. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? She was sat in the front carriage when the crash happened and was rushed in to surgery where doctors had to amputate her right leg. ', Judge Michael Chambers QC, the Recorder of Stafford, asked: 'Has anyone resigned as a result of the incident?' They described the aftermath as being like something out of a "horror movie. No one from Alton Towers has resigned as a result of The Smiler disaster, the court heard. I kept saying to Dino, Its over, I cant believe its all over.. does not see the point in being angry about what happened. ', The barrister, speaking for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which brought the prosecution, said: 'Engineers who came to remedy the situation, regarding the indicated block-stop, thought it was a false one reflecting a recently corrected issue and did not see the stalled train, and proceeded to re-set and re-start the ride, overriding the computer-generated block-stop.'. The crash on the Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers that seriously injured five people was caused by human error, the theme park's owner has said. Four of those rescued had significant lower-limb injuries that were not life threatening and were treated at the scene by trauma doctors, after what was described as the most serious accident at Alton Towers since the popular theme park opened in 1980. Vicky was excited to speak about her wedding, saying: We are getting married in Italy, an intimate ceremony with friends and family. The victims screamed for help as they were left suspended in mid-air on the ride, which can reach speeds of up to 50mph, for several hours. People ask if Im happy with it and its difficult to answer. "Vickys determination, courage and excellent approach to the tough challenges she has faced since the accident has been inspiring, she has a fantastic nature and with her forthcoming wedding is proof that life goes on after serious injury.. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. She received thousands of likes and wrote: "So this happened yesterday I SAID YES. They could each receive "well in excess of 2m" in compensation if the High Court claim is successful. Leah showed off her engagement ring in a photo from Venice on her Instagram page. The trapped ridegoers then had to wait more than four hours to be freed from the crumpled carriage while rescue workers battled to reach them as they sat 25ft up in the air at an angle of about 45 degrees, pinned in by the mangled metal. 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Victims, many with visible scars, were at Stafford Crown Court for the two-day sentencing hearing and heard how a series of blunders led to the crash. The accident happened on Route 7 westbound at Lakeland Drive . "The claimants' lawyer has confirmed to us that this is a purely procedural filing to preserve their clients' rights in relation to the standard three-year limitation period, and that certain claims are not yet ready for settlement due to their complex nature.". When the Smiler reopens, it will include new safety measures including additional CCTV cameras and an enhanced safety process requiring a senior member of staff to authorise the manual overrides that caused the Smiler crash. "From the outset we have engaged fully at all times to resolve all the claims as quickly as possible. There has been a series of incidents on the ride since it opened in May 2013. 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