Draft:The Smiler incident

Prior to the incident on June 2, the ride faced many difficulties, and the opening of the ride was delayed for several months because of "unforeseen teething problems".{{cite news |title=Staffordshire - Stoke-on-Trent Live |url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Alton-Towers-delays-opening-Smiler-technical/story-19056509-detail/story.html#axzz2UWTUBzdE |access-date=24 April 2026 |work=Stoke on Trent Live |date=18 April 2026 |language=en}}{{cite web |url=http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2013-05-23/new-smiler-ride-at-alton-towers-has-teething-problems/ |access-date=24 April 2026 |title=New Smiler ride at Alton Towers has teething problems}} The Smiler fully opened on 31 May 2013.{{cite web |title="It's time to Join Us - The Smiler is NOW OPEN #TheSmiler" |url=https://twitter.com/altontowers/status/340420548750348289 |website=Twitter |access-date=24 April 2026}} On 21 July 2013, about 2 months after the opening, 48 people were evacuated after debris fell from a section of track, narrowly missing the ride's queue.{{cite news |title=Alton Towers Closes Smiler Ride Over Bolt |url=http://news.sky.com/story/1119353/alton-towers-closes-smiler-ride-over-bolt |access-date=24 April 2026 |work=Sky News}}{{cite web |title=Smiler forced to close again as flying part just misses Alton Towers ride queue |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2013/07/22/smiler-forced-to-close-again-as-flying-part-just-misses-alton-towers-ride-queue/ |website=Express and Star |access-date=24 April 2026 |language=en |date=22 July 2013}} The ride also suffered from issues related to guide wheels on the lift hill. The ride closed to investigate the issues, but it re-opened within 5 days.{{cite news |title=Alton Towers Smiler shut after wheels hit four on ride |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-24794468 |access-date=24 April 2026 |work=BBC News |date=3 November 2013}}

Prior to the incident on June 2, the ride faced many difficulties, and the opening of the ride was delayed for several months because of "unforeseen teething problems".{{cite news |title=Staffordshire - Stoke-on-Trent Live |url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Alton-Towers-delays-opening-Smiler-technical/story-19056509-detail/story.html#axzz2UWTUBzdE |access-date=24 April 2026 |work=Stoke on Trent Live |date=18 April 2026 |language=en}}{{cite web |url=http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2013-05-23/new-smiler-ride-at-alton-towers-has-teething-problems/ |access-date=24 April 2026 |title=New Smiler ride at Alton Towers has teething problems}} The Smiler fully opened on 31 May 2013.{{cite web |title="It's time to Join Us - The Smiler is NOW OPEN #TheSmiler" |url=https://twitter.com/altontowers/status/340420548750348289 |website=Twitter |access-date=24 April 2026}} On 21 July 2013, about 2 months after the opening, 48 people were evacuated after debris fell from a section of track, narrowly missing the ride's queue.{{cite news |title=Alton Towers Closes Smiler Ride Over Bolt |url=http://news.sky.com/story/1119353/alton-towers-closes-smiler-ride-over-bolt |access-date=24 April 2026 |work=Sky News}}{{cite web |title=Smiler forced to close again as flying part just misses Alton Towers ride queue |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2013/07/22/smiler-forced-to-close-again-as-flying-part-just-misses-alton-towers-ride-queue/ |website=Express and Star |access-date=24 April 2026 |language=en |date=22 July 2013}} The ride also suffered from issues related to guide wheels on the lift hill. The ride closed to investigate the issues, but it re-opened within 5 days.{{cite news |title=Alton Towers Smiler shut after wheels hit four on ride |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-24794468 |access-date=24 April 2026 |work=BBC News |date=3 November 2013}}

== Incident ==

== Incident ==

On 2 June 2015, an additional train was added to the ride's circuit. An empty train that had been released to test the ride subsequently stalled on the track after a gust of wind, which triggered the block system on the ride and prevented further movement of the ride.{{cite web |last1=Rodger |first1=James |title=The harrowing story behind Alton Towers Smiler crash five years on |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/harrowing-story-behind-alton-towers-18347683 |website=Birmingham Live |access-date=24 April 2026 |language=en |date=2 June 2020}} The ride was handed over to the ride operators, who manually overrode the block system, believing that the system showing a fifth train on the course was a software error, as the ride only runs four trains under normal operation.{{cite web |title=Alton Towers Press:Alton Towers Resort to launch world first rollercoaster in 2013 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020003218/http://press.altontowers.com/news-alton-towers-resort-to-launch-world-first-rollercoaster-in-2013-11705 |website=press.altontowers.com |access-date=24 April 2026 |language=en-gb}}

On 2 June 2015, an additional train was added to the ride's circuit. An empty train that had been released to test the ride subsequently stalled on the track after a gust of wind, which triggered the block system on the ride and prevented further movement of the ride.{{cite web |last1=Rodger |first1=James |title=The harrowing story behind Alton Towers Smiler crash five years on |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/harrowing-story-behind-alton-towers-18347683 |website=Birmingham Live |access-date=24 April 2026 |language=en |date=2 June 2020}} The ride was handed over to the ride operators, who manually overrode the block system, believing that the system showing a fifth train on the course was a software error, as the ride only runs four trains under normal operation.{{cite web |title=Alton Towers Press:Alton Towers Resort to launch world first rollercoaster in 2013 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020003218/http://press.altontowers.com/news-alton-towers-resort-to-launch-world-first-rollercoaster-in-2013-11705 |website=press.altontowers.com |access-date=24 April 2026 |language=en-gb}} A train with 16 passengers collided with the empty train, seriously injuring five passengers.{{cite web |title=Four seriously hurt in Alton Towers Smiler crash |url=http://riderater.co.uk/2015/four-seriously-hurt-in-alton-towers-smiler-crash/ |website=Riderater.co.uk |access-date=24 April 2026}} Two riders in the front row, Vicky Balch and Leah Washington, required partial leg amputations.{{cite news |title=Alton Towers Smiler crash victims Leah Washington and Joe Pugh marry nine years later |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/alton-towers-smiler-crash-leah-washington-joe-pugh-b2551802.html |access-date=24 April 2026 |work=The Independent |date=26 May 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Alton Towers Smiler accident victims named |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-32997703 |access-date=24 April 2026 |work=BBC News |date=3 June 2015}} Other riders suffered from various injuries, from punctured lungs to whiplash. The riders were only freed from the train four hours after the initial collision.{{cite news |title=Alton Towers rescue 'most challenging' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-33706903 |access-date=24 April 2026 |work=BBC News |date=29 July 2015}}

== Aftermath ==

[[Nick Varney]], the CEO of [[Merlin Entertainments]] until 2022, said in a press release:

{{Blockquote|text=This has been a terrible incident and a devastating day for everyone here. We have a very strong record of safe operation of our rides here at Alton Towers and it is our priority. I would like to express my sincerest regret and apology to everyone who suffered injury and distress today and to their families.|author=Nick Varney|source=speaking to PRWeek after the incident{{cite news |title=Merlin CEO Nick Varney fronts response to Alton Towers crash |url=http://www.prweek.com/article/1350007/merlin-ceo-nick-varney-fronts-response-alton-towers-crash |access-date=24 April 2026 |work=www.prweek.co.uk |language=en}}}}

Merlin Entertainments decided to temporarily close [[Saw – The Ride]] at [[Thorpe Park]], and two other roller coasters at [[Chessington World of Adventures]], while safety protocols and procedures were evaluated for its multi-car roller coasters.{{cite news |title=Alton Towers Smiler crash: Four rollercoasters shut |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33025024 |access-date=24 April 2026 |work=BBC News |date=5 June 2015}}

Following the incident, several Merlin Entertainments parks recorded a drop in revenue and visitors. Due to the financial impact of the incident, 190 jobs at Alton Towers were eliminated.{{cite news |title=Alton Towers to axe 190 jobs in the wake of Smiler crash |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/business/2015/11/09/alton-towers-to-axe-190-jobs-in-the-wake-of-smiler-crash/ |access-date=24 April 2026 |work=Express and Star}}

The ride re-opened on 19 March 2016 with improvements to the ride's safety system.{{cite news |title=Alton Towers Smiler ride reopens nine months after horror crash |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-35851291 |access-date=24 April 2026 |work=BBC News |date=19 March 2016}} Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd was prosecuted by the HSE at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on 22 April 2016, in which the firm pleaded guilty.{{cite news |date=25 February 2016 |title=Smiler crash: Alton Towers owner to be prosecuted |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35658850 |access-date=3 June 2016}}{{cite news |date=22 April 2016 |title=Alton Towers admits Smiler ride safety breaches |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36111412 |access-date=3 June 2016}} On 27 September 2016, after a two-day hearing at [[Stafford Crown Court]], Judge Michael Chambers QC fined Merlin Entertainments £5 million; the value of the fine was reduced by one third from £7.5 million as credit for the guilty plea.{{cite news |date=27 September 2016 |title=Smiler crash: Alton Towers operator Merlin fined £5m |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-37481825 |access-date=27 September 2016}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.shponline.co.uk/alton-towers-smiler-ride-crash-sentencing/|title=Alton Towers operators fined £5m in sentencing - SHP Online {{!}} Health and Safety News, Legislation, PPE, Training and CPD|date=26 September 2016|work=SHP Online {{!}} Health and Safety News, Legislation, PPE, Training and CPD|access-date=16 April 2017|language=en-US}} In September 2018, Vicky Balch and Leah Washington, who lost their legs on the ride after the crash in June 2015, sued Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd for negligence and/or breach of statutory duty.{{cite news |date=19 September 2018 |title=Alton Towers Smiler ride crash victims sue park's owners |publisher=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-45572981}}

== Notes ==

== Notes ==

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