Alton Towers Crash 'Human Error'
24 November 2015, 13:03 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50
The crash on The Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers which seriously injured five people was caused by "human error'', an investigation has found.
The crash on The Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers which seriously injured five people was caused by "human error'', an investigation has found.
Owner Merlin Entertainments said the ride will reopen next year.
Sixteen people in total were injured on the ride when the carriage they were in collided with another that had come to a halt on the track on June 2.
One of the people seriously injured in the crash - Leah Washington, 17, from Barnsley - had her left leg amputated above the knee. Her boyfriend Joe Pugh, 19, was also injured.
A statement from the company said: "The investigation concluded that the incident was the result of human error culminating in the manual override of the ride safety control system without the appropriate protocols being followed.
"The investigation also identified areas where protocols and the training of employees should be improved. There were found to be no technical or mechanical problems with the ride itself."
