Alton Towers: rides shut at two other theme parks
Merlin Entertainments temporarily shuts a rollercoaster at Thorpe Park and two rides at Chessington World of Adventures following a serious accident at Alton Towers.
Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, told Sky News the group was adding “another layer” of safety measures to existing rides as a “precaution” against the prospect of another accident.
Alton Towers, in Staffordshire, has been closed since the record-breaking Smiler ride came to an abrupt halt when two carriages collided, injuring 16 people, on Tuesday. Four people who suffered critical injuries were airlifted to major trauma centres.
Mr Varney said “a rather unique set of circumstances (might) have played a contributory factor in the Smiler accident” and his team was doing “everything” to help those affected.
On Friday, the company announced it had temporarily shut a rollercoaster at its Thorpe Park site, and two rides at Chessington World of Adventures – both in Surrey – to “reinforce the safe operation” of the attractions.
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