Rollercoaster to reopen after horror accident leaves riders badly injured
Xinhua, March 2, 2016 Adjust font size:
A 14-loop rollercoaster at a theme park in central England, closed since five people were seriously injured in an accident in June last year, is to reopen this month.
Alton Towers in Staffordshire said Tuesday the Smiler Ride will re-open on March 19 when the theme park's new season begins.
The owner of the theme park, Merlin Attractions, is being taken to court next month by the government's Health and Safety Executive over the accident.
Two women each lost a leg and three other people were seriously hurt when their carriage hit a stationary carriage on the ride on June 2, 2015. A number of riders were also trapped and had to be rescued by emergency crews.
The theme park describes the Smiler as the world's first 14-loop rollercoaster, with its twisting track taking carriages through the loops at a speed of 85 km per hour during the 1,170 meter ride when the G-force reaches at 4.5G force.
Nick Varney, CEO of park owners Merlin, has pledged to be the first person to use the ride when it re-opens.
The theme park said in a statement it has new safety measures across all multi-car rollercoasters in a bid to prevent a similar crash from happening.
The theme park is based at the one time family estate of the Earl of Shrewsbury. It is one of Britain's leading theme park attractions. Endit