Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers - carriage collision
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Soldato
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A while ago I was at another Merlin park which I must say is looking very tired.
I did a bit of Googling and on trip advisor as was astonished by a review from a claimed structural engineer.
It was replied to by an official and he claimed to have photographic evidence to back up his allegations which I gather were being handed over.
Coupled with my own thoughts on that park (not Alton towers) I doubt I would visit another again. I know the particular attractions he was talking about were 30 years old plus and looked well overdue paint etc.
I did a bit of Googling and on trip advisor as was astonished by a review from a claimed structural engineer.
It was replied to by an official and he claimed to have photographic evidence to back up his allegations which I gather were being handed over.
Coupled with my own thoughts on that park (not Alton towers) I doubt I would visit another again. I know the particular attractions he was talking about were 30 years old plus and looked well overdue paint etc.
Terrible thing to happen ! 
Very bloody strange though on a modern rollercoaster!
Them things usually lock up like a Nun in a bear party if anything goes wrong outside of the designed programming!
But looking at the past record of the ride, I would condemn it and put it down to bad initial design.
Very bloody strange though on a modern rollercoaster!
Them things usually lock up like a Nun in a bear party if anything goes wrong outside of the designed programming!
But looking at the past record of the ride, I would condemn it and put it down to bad initial design.
Obviously not that tight a ship if they can't safely run what is essentially a hornby train set.
Caporegime
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I always thought this too. You always seemed to get that extra polished feel when compared to other theme parks. Although I used to go several times a year I haven't been since 2007 so a lot could have changed since then.
Can you mention which this other Merlin Park is you are talking about? Thorpe Park? Colossus is the main one I think needs to either be replaced or shut down, I swear they've put duct tape on some of the track! Such an old ride now.
Soldato
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Judging by the pictures, it wasnt actually people at the front of the carriages that would've been most seriously hurt. I think the third carriage from the front buckled and collapsed in on the legs of the occupants.
Could be wrong though.
Could be wrong though.
speed isn't the only factor but mass too and I'm fairly confident one of those carriages full of people is quite some mass
a car hitting a wall at 20mph doesn't have the same force as a tank at 20mph
I have had it on Oblivion where my harness didn't lock fully and was just being held by the seatbelt.....Got halfway up the slope and realised it wasn't going to fully lock in. Not the most pleasant thing to happen when going over the edge and sliding forward. Not been to Alton Towers since that happened in 2008. Told the ride operator after and they just shrugged it off like it was nothing.
You do realise that its two seperate trains stuck together?
The back of the empty front train caused the first row of the second train to crumple hence the leg injuries.
Mass/weight it was at least 1.2 tonnes of people alone, treble that + with the carriage and speed, you can imagine the force!!!
Just regarding the amounts of force and energy involved, 1.2 tonnes travelling at 20mph produces 3609 Ft lbs of energy. Un licensed air rifles produce 12 ft lbs of energy. A 7.62mm NATO bullet has approx 2500 ft lbs of energy.
Nasty stuff
I think the expert might well turn out to be right with regards to a couple of the victims...
ok, in joules then:
1.2 tonnes travelling at 20mph produces 4893 joules of energy. Un licensed air rifles produce 16 joules of energy. A 7.62mm NATO bullet has approx 3389 joules of energy
I'd expect a few million at the least if I had lost use of my limbs or became paralysed.
let's face it your life just about got wrecked, your career choice you were studying so hard for at uni might now be impossible for you etc.
You might need constant care for the rest of your life and basically everything for you just became a hell of a lot harder and a constant battle for your remaining days
let's face it your life just about got wrecked, your career choice you were studying so hard for at uni might now be impossible for you etc.
You might need constant care for the rest of your life and basically everything for you just became a hell of a lot harder and a constant battle for your remaining days
Soldato
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The settlement will have to cover any adaptions needed at home and care for however long necessary. It's not quite the same as the US system in total settlement value.
For the insurance company in these cases it will run into the hundreds of thousands If not more. The insurance will have to also cover all nhs medical bills and for major cases that could exceed £100k each. Circa £700 per night per person in hospital.
It also depends if the injured party was an income contributor for the family as the insurance would have to compensate for that too.
From experience of insurance claims, albeit a different industry but similar severity this is going to be expensive.
Depending on what type of insurance and who is at fault, the loss of earnings for the parent group from park closure may also be a factor.
Notwithstanding the technicalities, this is tragic for the families.
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For being paralised, I'd expect a lot more than the 150k or someone said for the amputation
Let's just hope it not true and she somehow pulls through it.
That sort of money would be a waste anyway for someone who wouldn't be able to enjoy it, I'd know what I would rather have. Be able to take care of myself
Let's just hope it not true and she somehow pulls through it.
That sort of money would be a waste anyway for someone who wouldn't be able to enjoy it, I'd know what I would rather have. Be able to take care of myself