Who crashed on the Smiler?

Leah Washington and Joe Pugh were both teenagers riding the Smiler when it crashed in 2015. Leah's leg was later amputated and Joe had shattered knees.

Who was at fault for the Smiler crash?

The carriage collided with a stationary carriage on the same track after an internal investigation at the theme park found that 'human error' was to blame in over-riding a computer system in allowing a carriage to continue on the track and crash into an empty carriage.

What actually happened on the Smiler crash?

The Smiler is a rollercoaster at Alton Towers theme park, with a top-speed of 85kmh. On June 2 2015, two carriages collided on the ride, trapping 16 people and seriously injuring four.

How did the girl lose her leg on the Smiler?

Stewarts was instructed by eight of the individuals involved in the crash. Four of the most seriously hurt, including Vicky, were sitting in the front seat of the rollercoaster. Vicky's severe leg injury is most likely to have been caused by the collapse of the front carriage, which effectively caved in on impact.

Who was the girl who lost her leg on the Smiler?

Leah Washington and Joe Pugh were both on the Smiler ride when it crashed in 2015. Leah, who was just 17 at the time, had to have her left leg amputated above the knee after it was crushed during the accident.

Alton Towers Smiler crash caught on camera - Full footage

How much compensation did Leah Washington get?

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.

How much did the girl who lost her legs at Alton Towers get?

A woman who lost her leg in a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers has received a multi-million pound payout four years on. Beautician Vicky Balch was one of 16 people injured when an empty carriage was stranded on the track of ride Smiler back in June 2015.

How many people survived The Smiler crash?

All 16 people were eventually freed from the carriage. Vicky Balch, then 19, and Leah Washington, then 17, were airlifted to hospital and forced to undergo leg amputations after sustaining serious injuries in the crash.

Did Alton Towers get sued?

On that day Alton Towers “fell well short” of the safety standards expected of the UK's biggest theme park, the judge added. Outside court, the victims' lawyer, Paul Paxton, welcomed the record-breaking fine but said “money alone will never repair limbs or heal the psychological scars”.

How many people have lost their legs on The Smiler?

On June 2 2015, a loaded train on the Alton Towers Smiler rollercoaster collided with an empty test train, trapping 16 people and seriously injury four. Two teenage girls who were sitting at the front of the train received life changing injuries and had to have legs amputated as a result.

Does the Smiler spray laughing gas?

The Flasher has the power to momentarily stun its subjects whilst the tickler will assault your senses with its enormous rotating feather dusters. You'll be laughing whether you want to or not as you are sprayed with infectious laughing gas by The Giggler.

How safe is the Smiler now?

Later in the ride's life, a major crash caused by human error occurred on June 2, 2015. The ride was closed for 9 months until it reopened in March of 2016. The ride has been operating incident-free ever since..

Do they put laughing gas on the Smiler?

The Flasher produces flashing lights, blinding you as you travel under the leg. The Giggler releases infectious, intoxicating laughing gas and The Hypnotiser has the power to disorientate, mesmerize and disrupt your self-awareness.

Are Leah and Joe still together?

The couple recently moved into a new home together in South Yorkshire and are now excitedly planning their upcoming wedding. Congratulations, Leah and Joe!

Can the Smiler crash again?

A spokesperson for the Theme Park said that following the crash, a number of changes to safety measures had been put in place "to ensure that an incident of this nature can never happen again".

How did Alton Towers respond to Smiler crash?

Five people were very seriously injured, two of them had to have their legs amputated. Immediately following the incident, Alton Towers closed the park and temporarily suspended a number of rides across their theme park portfolio.

Did anyone live in Alton Towers?

The Beginnings of Alton Towers as an Attraction

Lady Shrewsbury lived alone at the Towers until 1923 after her husband's death in 1921. Although the bulk of the estate had already been sold in 1918, in 1924 the remaining lands and Alton Towers itself were sold to a group of local businessmen.

How much did Alton Towers pay for injury?

Alton Towers was fined £5million. The payout is earmarked for a lifetime of physio, treatment and prosthetics. Artificial limbs can cost £80,000 each and need replacing every few years. As well as physio, Vicky must attend specialist exercise classes just to feel normal.

Is the Smiler the scariest ride?

Arguably the most extreme ride at the Staffordshire theme park, The Smiler is a high-octane trip to an adrenaline wonderland but only if you're a rollercoaster fan. For those who look at the metal track looping and twisting and go pale with trepidation, this is a living hell.

Did Alton Towers victims get compensation?

The payout is earmarked for a lifetime of physio, treatment and prosthetics. Artificial limbs can cost £80,000 each and need replacing every few years. As well as physio, Vicky must attend specialist exercise classes just to feel normal. She adds: "I don't think I'm ever going to get real closure.

How much did the Smiler crash cost?

THE Alton Towers horror crash will cost the park owners £50million, they revealed yesterday. Owners Merlin shut down the park for four days after the Smiler rollercoaster crash last month in which five people were badly hurt, two of them losing legs.

Was Smiler Alton Towers human error?

Alton Towers operator Merlin was at fault for the Smiler rollercoaster crash despite “human errors” which left two teenagers needing leg amputations and several other passengers seriously hurt, a court has heard.

How much is Alton Towers worth?

Alton Towers sold in £5.9bn deal that includes Thorpe Park and Madame Tussauds. Alton Towers has been sold in a £5.9bn takeover deal that includes Thorpe Park and Madame Tussauds. The current owners Merlin Entertainments have agreed the sale to family owners of Lego and private equity firm Blackstone.

When was the last time the Smiler broke down?

“Our technical team are working to reset the ride this evening so this should not affect guests visiting the park tomorrow.” The Smiler previously made headlines in 2015, after a crash on the rollercoaster left five people seriously injured, including two teenage girls who both required leg amputations.