Box 7200, Leesburg, VA 20177 Merlin said it was "on standby to conclude settlement discussions on the outstanding claims as soon as they are ready". Witnesses posted pictures of the aftermath of the collision as people were evacuated from the rollercoaster. Vicky was excited to speak about her wedding, saying: We are getting married in Italy, an intimate ceremony with friends and family. Both have been undergoing rehabilitation for their injuries. A spokesperson for Alton Towers said: "From the outset we have sought to provide assistance and support to those that were injured and their families. The pair both feature in a new Channel 5 series, Where Theres Blame Theres A Claim, which examines compensation cases. Witnesses described hearing a huge sound, like a car crash when the carriages came together on the Smiler attraction on Tuesday afternoon. The theme park's operator Merlin has been warned to expect a 'very large fine' for health and safety breaches. When is Eurovision and how do you get tickets? Leahs blood pressure plunged so low it was unrecordable and she nearly died. Where There's Blame There's A Claim features Leah Washington and Joe Pugh, Don't miss any TV and showbiz news - sign up to free alerts. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk, Alton Towers crash victims sue 'for 2m', 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. But the company has been criticised for putting profits over people and keeping the ride open even in the face of the appalling injuries sustained on it. Judge Michael Chambers QC said the crash on the 18m attraction was a "catastrophic failure and a "needless and avoidable accident in which those who were injured were lucky not to be killed.". Leah Washington and her boyfriend Joe Pugh on The Smiler. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? The documentary also features 57-year-old security worker Ivan Martin who battled to receive compensation from West Midlands Police for twice being wrongly arrested. What science tells us about the afterlife. Ben Richardson, who posted pictures on Twitter of the crashed rollercoaster, told the BBC the collision sounded like car crash it was very full on. Putting names to archive photos, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, In photos: India's disappearing single-screen cinemas. 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.". The 18m Smiler ride, described as the worlds first 14-looping rollercoaster on its official website, opened in May 2013. The trapped ridegoers then had to wait more than four hours to be freed from the crumpled carriage while rescue workers battled to reach them as they sat 25ft up in the air at an angle of about 45 degrees, pinned in by the mangled metal. 2023 BBC. She continued: When I said Id accept, it was such a massive weight lifted. The crash on the Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers that seriously injured five people was caused by human error, the theme parks owner has said. Stock in the FTSE-100 firm dropped 3.46% to 444.3p a share after opening this morning at 462.6p a share. Two women who lost legs after a crash on a ride at Alton Towers are suing the park's owners, their lawyers have said. 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. He added that there were 'various states of knowledge' of the fault alarm systems on the ride. They could each receive "well in excess of 2m" in compensation if the High Court claim is successful. The Alton Towers spokeswoman said a full investigation would take place into the accident. Alton Towers, in Staffordshire, which is owned by Merlin Entertainments, was fined 5million over the Smiler crash in 2015. Read about our approach to external linking. Joe, who broke both kneecaps and had his little finger snapped off by The Smiler ride accident , has received an estimated 100,000 pay-off, while Leah Washington, whose left leg was badly crushed and amputated above the knee, should receive more than 2 million. #notgood! 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. Leah Washington (left) and Vicky Balch were both badly injured on the ride. 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. Victims who lost limbs, broke bones and suffered internal injuries in the disaster relieved their ordeal as they faced the theme park's bosses at Stafford Crown Court today. Joe Pugh, from Barnsley in South Yorkshire tweeted: "How awful and disrespectful can people get? However, he added that there was 'absolutely no evidence of a task analysis-based approach for engineering work, in particular in dealing with ride faults'. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Alton Towers owner Merlin Entertainments said: "We are pleased to have reached a settlement with Vicky and we wish her the very best for her wedding. Manufactured by Gerstlauer, it opened in 2013 as the world's first Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster. Human error caused the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash in June that seriously injured five people, the Staffordshire theme park has said. Vicky and Dino, who got engaged in December 2018 after a year of dating, had originally planned to tie the knot inFlorence in September last year, however they had to put their nuptials on hold following the ongoing pandemic. Vicky Balch, 23, and Leah Washington, 20, were in the front seats of the Smiler ride which rammed into a stationary carriage in June 2015. Emergency services eventually rescued 16 people trapped on the rollercoaster at a 45-degree angle. Do you know this baby? Their front carriage on The Smiler rollercoaster hit a broken-down carriage on the track with the force of a 90 mph car crash. The four most seriously injured were rescued first. A court saw CCTV footage today for the. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Experts reckon the final figure could run into millions. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Sixteen people were injured in the June 2015 crash, including two teenage girls who needed leg amputations. Chandaben Chauhan (right) suffered internal injuries after being on a girls day out with her two daughters, one of whom accompanied her to court today, Entourage: The large legal team representing Alton Towers' owners Merlin file into Stafford Crown Court this morning. "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. Blood everywhere. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Ukraine soldiers shoot down enemy drones with drones of their own, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Mark Gordon arrives at Crawley Police Station after remains found, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA. Joe suffered shattered kneecaps in the accident. Incredibly it emerged that today staff running ride at Alton Towers had not read the ride's operating manual and then took 17 minutes to dial 999. I had to face that this was going to be something I was going to have to live with for the rest of my life. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Its all to go on treatment. 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'. Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Smiler crash, a rollercoaster collision which rocked the UK back in 2015. Alton Towers owner fined 5m over Smiler rollercaster crash, Alton Towers owner pleads guilty over Smiler rollercoaster crash, Alton Towers crash victim says bionic leg has transformed her life, Alton Towers Smiler crash footage released for first time, Alton Towers ride reopens despite protests, Moment of Alton Towers Smiler crash CCTV video, Alton Towers crash victim learns to walk again on prosthetic leg video, Alton Towers crash victim says amputation was a relief, Alton Towers Smiler ride victims meet 'amazing' rescuers at ceremony, Alton Towers: footage of ride seconds after crash - video, Alton Towers crash victim Leah Washington feared she would die on the Smiler. Footage of the Smiler rollercoaster seconds after the crash. The Smiler ride at Alton Towers Read More Related Articles. Four ambulances and four air ambulances attended the scene among 40 emergency vehicles in total after receiving a 999 call at 2.09pm. 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. But Leah, from Barnsley, South Yorks., says she is still waiting for final damages to be paid out. The accident happened on Route 7 westbound at Lakeland Drive . At the beginning of Monday's hearing, Judge Chambers said: 'One of the features is not just the impact on those injured, but on those close to them.'. He added that he had read all the victim impact statements. I'm so happy and excited for the rest of our lives together,' she told the Mirrorat the time. And Vicky revealed in November that she had been given a. 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!' We went halfway across the park and then we heard a big bang. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. as being like something out of a "horror movie. When is Eurovision and how do you get tickets? Students who dressed up as a rollercoaster and called themselves the "7 legless" have apologised to victims of the Alton Towers crash.