This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/feb/29/alton-towers-to-reopen-ride-that-seriously-injured-five-people
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Alton Towers to reopen ride that seriously injured five people | Alton Towers to reopen ride that seriously injured five people |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Alton Towers rollercoaster closed since five people were seriously injured in a horror crash last year is due to reopen. | The Alton Towers rollercoaster closed since five people were seriously injured in a horror crash last year is due to reopen. |
| After the incident in June 2015, two women had to have legs amputated after their carriage collided with a stationary carriage on the same track. | After the incident in June 2015, two women had to have legs amputated after their carriage collided with a stationary carriage on the same track. |
| The ride, Smiler,which has been closed since 2 June 2015, will reopen on 19 March when the new season starts at the theme park. | The ride, Smiler,which has been closed since 2 June 2015, will reopen on 19 March when the new season starts at the theme park. |
| Last week it was announced that Merlin, owner of Alton Towers, is to be prosecuted over the crash. | |
| The Health and Safety Executive said Merlin Attractions would appear at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on 22 April to face a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act. | |
| Related: Alton Towers owner to face court over Smiler rollercoaster accident | |
| Merlin Entertainments has seen its annual profits edge up after the accident. The group – which also owns attractions such as Legoland, Madame Tussauds and the London Eye – said it overcame a fall in revenues at its theme parks to post a pre-tax profit rise of 0.3% to £250m in the year to 26 December compared with a year ago. | Merlin Entertainments has seen its annual profits edge up after the accident. The group – which also owns attractions such as Legoland, Madame Tussauds and the London Eye – said it overcame a fall in revenues at its theme parks to post a pre-tax profit rise of 0.3% to £250m in the year to 26 December compared with a year ago. |
| It said Alton Towers had a “significant” fall in visitor numbers after the accident, which resulted in the 200-hectare (500-acre) theme park in Staffordshire being shut for four days. | |
| Merlin Attractions are alleged to have breached section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which states: “It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.” | |
| Sixteen people were injured in the collision on a low section of the ride, which can reach speeds of up to 50mph. | Sixteen people were injured in the collision on a low section of the ride, which can reach speeds of up to 50mph. |
| The five people seriously injured were Vicky Balch and Daniel Thorpe, from Buxton in Derbyshire, Leah Washington and Joe Pugh, from Barnsley, and Chandaben Chauhan, from Wednesbury, West Midlands. Washington and Balch each lost a leg as a result of their injuries. |