But at least now I can live my life. Read about our approach to external linking. "Those individuals who have not yet settled their claims have received significant interim payments. CCTV shows horrific moment Alton Towers ride carriages smash into each other 'like 90mph car crash', Alton Towers Smiler crash victims pay tribute to Drayton Manor schoolgirl, Watch: Delighted passengers queue to go on The Smiler as it reopens, BBC Breakfast star Charlie Stayt halts show to warn Lenny Henry 'you shouldn't say that', Charlie was hosting BBC Breakfast on Thursday - but warned Lenny: "You really shouldn't say that. The pair, from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, were among 16 people hurt in the crash, five of them seriously, when two carriages on the ride collided in June that year. However, he added that although there had been 'a number of human errors', the 'fault here is with the employers', and not individuals. One person, 23-year-old Orlando Rodriguez, died at the scene of the crash on April 2, 2022. Read about our approach to external linking. Leah Washington (left) and Vicky Balch were both badly injured on the ride. 'You're not on your own up there': Mother's heartbreaking Fighting for life: Distraught mother shares harrowing Court shown horrifying moment The Smiler crashed in worst rollercoaster disaster for years, Impact of packed ride smashing into an empty carriageequivalent to 'a family car of 1.5 tons having collided at about 90mph', Victims were 'suspended (in mid air) for several hours'and suffered 'very significant blood loss' leading to loss of limbs. Read about our approach to external linking. Something went wrong, please try again later. share price plunge when it emerged the Smiler had been involved in a collision. 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. 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. ITV Dancing On Ice judge Christopher announced Jayne is out of surgery - and it was a success. Ian Crabbe, Alton Towers divisional director, said in a statement: May I first say that my colleagues and I are devastated by what has happened here today, and our only priority at this time is to work with the emergency services to get the 16 people affected off the ride safely, and most importantly those who are injured are being cared for. When I got the payout, it made me realise that I had to live with this disability for ever. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. 'I had no idea he was going to propose and couldn't believe it when he asked me. A court hearing in April this year was told Merlin had conducted an internal investigation following the incident, which established that a worker manually 'overrode' the ride's governing computer system. "However I am extremely pleased that this settlement will provide financial security for her to help her live the rest of her life to the full and maximise her potential. Alton Towers, in Staffordshire, which is owned by Merlin Entertainments, was fined 5million over the Smiler crash in 2015. When is Eurovision and how do you get tickets? This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Vicky Balch, 23, and Leah Washington, 20, were in the front seats of the. "The students involved further wish to apologise unreservedly to those affected by the Smiler incident for any offence or distress they may have unwittingly caused.". Leah Washington said:Merlin have looked after me and my family so well! For other inquiries, Contact Us. She told ITV: Id like it to be, but I know thats not realistic because it was a big attraction for the company. The Smiler reopened in March this year with 'improved safety measures' but student Miss Balch said she hoped the ride would 'be destroyed'. He said there appeared to have been problems with the ride on Tuesday morning. The grainy CCTV clip shows the ride smashing into an empty carriage with the same forceas a 90mph car crash. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? The engineers had re-set the ride and overridden a computer system 'block-stop' which they believed had halted the ride in error, sending a full 16-seater rollercoaster car around the track and into the empty carriage. Im slowly getting that back, but life is never going to be the same as it used to be.. The students have apologised for causing any offence, Joe Pugh (second from right) and his girlfriend Leah Washington (second from left) have both tweeted about the fancy dress outfits, Leah Washington, whose leg was amputated, tweeted at the same time as her boyfriend Joe Pugh, The students wore homemade rollercoaster seats strapped to their backs, Alton Towers operator Merlin was fined 5m, 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. Richardson said the first responders appeared to be more concerned with clearing people away from the ride than reaching the injured passengers. She said she is now having to opt for a "less demanding" career. Victims of the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash have received their first insurance payments. Lawyers for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have said the 1.1-kilometre Smiler, which opened in 2013, never had 'a proper settled system' for staff to follow when carriages stopped on-track. Vicky is now planing her wedding to fianc Dino Manciocchi next year. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Lawyer Paul Paxton said: "Our clients suffered life-changing injuries as a result of the accident. She captioned apicture of the pair: ''Can't believe my best friend asked me to marry him on Friday. Judge says disaster aggravated by difficulties emergency services had getting to victims left in mangled ride for almost four hours, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' He added that he had read all the victim impact statements. It has taken full responsibility for the incident and continues to co-operate with the ongoing Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation. Merlin said it was "on standby to conclude settlement discussions on the outstanding claims as soon as they are ready". 'There was no single member of technical service staff in control,' Mr Thorogood said. Leah's leg was later amputated and Joe had shattered knees. An independent investigation by the Health and Safety Executive is ongoing. 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. "I come home from work and all I want to do is get in bed. pic.twitter.com/aX8mBDaX7K. Giving an example of the idiosyncratic approach, Mr Thorogood said one engineer who worked on the Smiler that day told investigators after the crash that he had 'assumed' the rollercoaster had been fitted with a type of safety trip-switch present on at least one other park ride, when in fact it had not. Miss Balch has said she does not see the point in being angry about what happened. An investigation found an engineer had wrongly restarted the Smiler ride while a stationary carriage was on the track in front of it. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. There were found to be no technical or mechanical problems with the ride itself.. She sometimes says thanks when I dont even notice Ive done anything extra. Their front carriage on The Smiler rollercoaster hit a broken-down carriage on the track with the force of a 90 mph car crash. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Russia announces new ceasefire and 'humanitarian corridors' for fleeing civilians in FIVE cities from Wednesday morning - but will Putin's troops stop firing? Vicky was excited to speak about her wedding, saying: We are getting married in Italy, an intimate ceremony with friends and family. Latest news and stories from the West Midlands, "catastrophic failure and a "needless and avoidable accident in which those who were injured were lucky not to be killed.". Something went wrong, please try again later. Two women who lost legs after a crash on a ride at Alton Towers are suing the park's owners, their lawyers have said. None of the rollercoaster's four key engineers 'had the full picture or understanding of conditions on the ride' - and may not have all read the instruction manual. It really was shocking. "I still dont think Ive fully come to terms with everything that's happened. After an investigation, authorities arrested Rogel Hernandez-Reyes, a 27-year-old man from Maryland. 'Although I've been through a lot, I wouldn't change what happened because I probably wouldn't have Dino or Vinnie. Leah Washington, 19, from Barnsley, lost her leg along with another young passenger in the disaster. 'The problem was that the head-wind which that train could not overcome. The dress helped me decide on a theme its very fairytale. Two women who lost legs after a crash on a ride at Alton Towers are suing the park's owners, their lawyers have said. Workers at Italian shipyard believe mystery $700M vessel under extreme privacy measures has 'ties to the Russian leader' after European authorities raced to seize other ships owned by oligarchs in his inner circle. Alton Towers, in Staffordshire, which is owned by Merlin Entertainments, was fined 5million over the Smiler crash in 2015. My life as a wife and mum will be so different now. "I didnt think it would be as hard as it is. But we support each other. ", 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. Disgusting.". Emergency services were still attempting to free the last of the trapped passengers four hours after the incident, using a specially constructed platform to reach the carriage. A woman who lost her leg in a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers has received a multi-million pound payout four years on. ", Cash machine fraudsters target Staffordshire banks, Cold weather warning for possible snow showers, Man jailed following fatal hit and run which killed 'devoted mother' in Crewe, Council working on new tree planting policy amid claims existing rules preventing highways planting, Major bus operator announces it will 'step in and cover' Arriva services, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Inside the enclave surrounded by pro-Russia forces, China looks at reforms to deepen Xi's control, 'The nurses wanted me to feel guilty about my abortion, From Afghan TV fame to a US factory floor. No one from Alton Towers has resigned as a result of The Smiler disaster, the court heard. I wanted to take her mind away from the case and put it in a nice place wedding prep and marriage. Aaron Rodgers is snapped looking cozy with ex-fiance Shailene Woodley as they touch down in Palm Beach on private jet after he confirmed he'll remain with Packers but denies $200m contract, Attorney for Astroworld victims accuses Travis Scott of 'trying to sway potential jurors with good guy act' as rapper launches $5M charity initiative but is being sued for BILLIONS over deadly concert stampede that killed 10, Liberal University of Virginia student, 22, slams negative college experience defined by 'ideological conformity' and claims she and others self-censor in classrooms to avoid low grades and backlash from peers, REVEALED: J&J funded 1971 study where ASBESTOS was injected into mostly black inmates who were paid as little as $10 each by 'monster' doctor researching effects on skin. 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. By Martin Robinson, Uk Chief Reporter For Mailonline, Published: 05:33 EST, 26 September 2016 | Updated: 15:25 EST, 26 September 2016. Leah, 17 had just left school and had only been going out with Joe, 18, for four days when they had a day out at the Staffordshire theme park two years ago. Read about our approach to external linking. The serious crash unfolded on June 2, 2015, when a loaded train on the. 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. The defendant is ultimately responsible for these errors though they were made by individuals.'. Mr Thorogood said engineers, responding to a fault, were 'without guidance from above', and had not been given a system to follow to safely deal with the problem on the track. ", Harry: I always felt different to rest of family, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, Mbappe breaks PSG goal record in win over Nantes, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61. They could each receive "well in excess of 2m" in compensation if the High Court claim is successful. Leahs mum Louise says: We cant afford the legs. 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. Air ambulances landing now, people still stuck.. Update 26 October 2016: This report has been amended after The Tab said it had incorrectly reported the students were dressed as Smiler victims with "fake amputated legs". People hear Ive got money and think it must be like winning the lottery. "Whilst money cannot make up for what they have endured over the past three years, financial security can at least help the victims to lead a full and active life. I was told the average life expectancy of someone with an amputation. , updated "Whilst money cannot make up for what they have endured over the past three years, financial security can at least help the victims to lead a full and active life. Its not really a life, but it's something I'll have to live with.". It was never going to be easy. Mr Thorogood, summing up that point, said 'engineers revealed a range of understandings to important aspects, which with a single system (of working) there would not be'. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. An Alton Towers spokesman confirmed a decision had been taken to keep the park closed, and said that guests with pre-booked tickets and those arriving at the theme park would have the choice of a . Sixteen people were injured in the June 2015 crash, including two teenage girls who needed leg amputations. Its nothing like that. The Recorder of Stafford, Judge Michael Chambers QC, is set to hear evidence of the HSE's investigation into the crash, and mitigation from Merlin, before passing sentence. Leah Washington and Joe Pugh were both teenagers riding the Smiler when it crashed in. does not see the point in being angry about what happened. It has been closed twice before because of technical issues. Balch, who also lost a leg in the incident, has previously said she wanted the ride to shut for good. The University of Nottingham Students' Union said the costume was "in no way intended to reference the tragedy". But that money doesnt go to the victims so Leah and Joe have been mounting a substantial compensation claim. This is the horrifying moment The Smiler crashed at Alton Towers leaving 16 injured including two young women who later had legs amputated in the worst British rollercoaster crash for. We went halfway across the park and then we heard a big bang. Interim payments have since been paid to cover Leah's medical and physio bills to date, but the full compensation figure is still being assessed. 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. Kaya Terry For Mailonline, New heartbreak for Alton Towers Smiler crash survivor Vicky Balch as coronavirus forces her to postpone the dream Italian wedding she funded from her compensation payout after losing her leg, Alton Towers amputee, 25, announces she is expecting a baby with her fiance five years after losing her leg in rollercoaster disaster, Alton Towers amputee Vicky Balch, 25, gives birth to baby boy called Venanzio six years after she lost her leg in horrific Smiler ride accident at theme park, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' "There are lots of meetings and specialists you have to see. She continued: When I said Id accept, it was such a massive weight lifted. Joe tells the documentary: I could just see blood, bone and flesh splattered on the carriage in front., Leah says: I remember saying to you Will you hold my hand and you said I cant my fingers hanging off.. He added that there were 'various states of knowledge' of the fault alarm systems on the ride. 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Engineers then overrode a fault which had been detected by the computer system andsent the ride crashing into an empty carriage with the force of a '90mph car crash'. Alton Towers Smiler Victims Pictured Together For The First Time Since Crash; Modern World Driving Children to Despair. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. He said: I just wanted to be there for her, taking her mind off things. The court heard Varney, a father-of-four, took home a 733,000 pay packet in the same year as the Smiler crash. The investigation also identified areas where protocols and the training of employees should be improved. Other rides at Alton Towers were shut down. ', 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.'. Four ambulances and four air ambulances attended the scene among 40 emergency vehicles in total after receiving a 999 call at 2.09pm. Witnesses described hearing a huge sound, like a car crash when the carriages came together on the Smiler attraction on Tuesday afternoon. Ive got my wedding dress. Pressure mounts on KFC to shutter its 1,000 Russian restaurants as McDonald's Coca-Cola, Starbucks and Pepsi ALL halt business there indefinitely over Ukraine invasion, Heartbreaking pictures show Ukrainian children hiding in a bomb shelter in Mariupol as Russian troops lay siege to city where girl, six, has died of thirst after water was cut off, Sherri Papini makes a dash for her car after she's released on $120K bond with NO GPS monitor following arrest for 'Gone Girl' abduction hoax where she disappeared for 22 days and claimed she'd been abused, Is your dog depressed? Victoria Balch is learning to walk again, using a prosthetic A woman who required a leg amputation following a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers theme park has described the operation as a. 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.. And Vicky revealed in November that she had been given a multi-million pound payout for her injuries. A Merlin spokesman said: "From the outset we have admitted liability and have engaged fully at all times to achieve settlement for all the claimants as quickly as possible. ': Conservatives blast fellow Republican Matt Schlapp after the CPAC organizer suggested transgender swimmer Lia Thomas 'deserves our compassion', Trump asked Bill Barr 'what the hell were those cops thinking' when they killed George Floyd, said Eric Garner's death looked 'pretty bad' and Ahmaud Arbery's murder was 'ugly', former AG claims in new book, Donald Trump's personal attorney claims thieves broke into her parked car looking to steal former president's confidential files as CCTV shows suspects zooming past his Bedminster golf club before targeting her vehicle, New deal, old flame! ITV Dancing On Ice's Christopher Dean issues Jayne Torvill health announcement. Stock in the FTSE-100 firm dropped 3.46% to 444.3p a share. Email us attips@the-sun.co.ukor call 0207 782 4368, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. What science tells us about the afterlife. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Leah showed off her engagement ring in a photo from Venice on her Instagram page. Witnesses describe passengers screaming for help from carriage suspended in mid-air after collision on theme parks Smiler attraction. Box 7200, Leesburg, VA 20177 Good luck to all the teenagers involved.