Alton Towers’ visitor ‘loses leg’ after rollercoaster collision
Alton Towers has closed today after four visitors were seriously injured in a crash between two carriages on its Smiler rollercoaster.
The victims were crushed after the carriage carrying 16 people collided with an empty cart on the £18m ride at the Staffordshire park.
One of the seriously injured passengers has lost a leg, claim reports.
Passengers were left stranded for five hours as emergency workers tried to cut them free from the wreckage.
Some were unconscious and covered in blood.
Eyewitnesses told the BBC that the ride had broken down earlier in the day and, later, an empty ‘test’ carriage was sent round but this got stuck. However, a carriage with 16 passengers was sent immediately afterwards and it slammed into the back of the empty carriage.
Alton Towers will be closed today while investigations continue, said a spokesman.
Ian Crabbe, a divisional director for Alton Towers, said a full investigation was underway and officials from the Health and Safety Executive were on site.
He added: "I have been here for six years and this is the most serious incident in that time.
"I’d say it was the most serious in the history of Alton Towers."
Visitors booked to visit the park today were offered a refund.
The 53mph Smiler rollercoaster – which boasts a world record 14 loops – has been plagued with faults since it opened two years ago.
Two months after opening a piece fell off the track and 48 people had to be rescued, in August 2013 it closed for five days due to a fault and in November that year the wheels fell off and hit four people. In another incident, the ride got stuck on a near-vertical section, leaving riders stranded.
Merlin Entertainments – owner of Alton Towers- saw its shares drop more than 3%t – down 15.9p to 444.3p – following the crash.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt