Alton Towers Smiler crash: Park closed for weekend

The carriage was travelling at 20mph when it crashed

Alton Towers will stay closed over the weekend while investigations into a crash which injured 16 people continue, its owner has confirmed.

Two carriages on the Smiler rollercoaster crashed on Tuesday, seriously injuring four of those on board.

One victim, Vicky Balch, whose 20th birthday is today, is undergoing surgery for "significant" leg injuries.

Her condition is not life-threatening, her solicitor said in a statement.

Ms Balch's lawyer, Paul Paxton, said his office hoped to hold discussions with park owner Merlin Entertainment's insurers and their legal team next week.

"This is certainly not how she intended to celebrate her 20th birthday today," he added.

"The family remain grateful for the stream of good wishes."

Meanwhile, the theme park has said it is "working towards" reopening in the next few days.

A spokesman said the park would only reopen after the firm "completed a thorough appraisal of all our safety processes which is ongoing".

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which is investigating what happened, expect to be on-site all weekend, the BBC understands.

(L to r) Daniel Thorpe, Vicky Balch, Joe Pugh and Leah Washington remain in hospital following Tuesday's crash

Two carriages, one empty, collided at Alton Towers on Tuesday

Inspectors have already served a prohibition notice on the ride, stopping its use "until action is taken to deal with the cause of the failure".

Ms Balch, from Leyland in Lancashire, was one of four people hospitalised after the crash.

Daniel Thorpe, 27, from Buxton, underwent surgery on Thursday, the BBC understands.

Joe Pugh, 18, of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, and his girlfriend, Leah Washington, 17, are understood to have been taken to University Hospital Coventry.

The crash also prompted Merlin Entertainments to close rollercoasters at two of its other parks for safety checks.

Thorpe Park's flagship Saw rollercoaster, and two rides at Chessington World of Adventures will remain out of action until new protocols have been applied, the firm said.

Four rollercoasters - Smiler, Dragonsfury, Rattlesnake and Saw - have now been closed at three theme parks

Paul Burton, from enthusiast group the European Coaster Club, told BBC News he was shocked by the crash, as large rides such as the Smiler are subject to "lots of safety checks and safety mechanisms".

"I've never seen anything like it before," he said.

Mr Burton, who rode the Smiler three days before the incident, said there was a one in 24 million risk of "being caught up in this kind of situation".

"This kind of accident is completely unheard of.

"We cannot speculate, but from [the investigation] there will be a diagnosis and from that people can understand what happened."