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jimlowe

Blackpool Big Dipper Accident 11/08/09

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/8196617.stm

Stuck car caused Big Dipper crash

The Big Dipper was constructed in 1921, has a track length of 3,295ft (1013.85m)
and has a maximum speed of 35mph (56kph).

The Big Dipper was constructed in 1921 (Pic: Stewart Hetherington)
Two carriages collided at Blackpool Pleasure Beach when one of them became jammed on the rails, police have said.

Thirty people were injured when the second carriage crashed into the back of the first car on the Big Dipper ride on Tuesday evening.

Up to 21 casualties were taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital with facial, back and neck injuries. Among them was a seven-year-old child.

David Cam, a spokesman for The Pleasure Beach, apologised for the accident.

He said: "It's extraordinarily rare that we have an incident like this and it's very sad for us to realise that some people have been injured and we wish them well and a very speedy recovery."

The ride has been closed while the Health and Safety Executive investigates.

After the crash, the two cars came to rest 20ft (6m) off the ground.

Firefighters rescued the riders using a specialist rope team, stretchers and spinal boards.

We... took the casualties from the ride in stretchers and down on to the ground level using specialist rope rescue equipment

Mark Alderson
South Shore fire station
A Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospital spokesman said: "Twenty of the 21 patients have been discharged but one of the riders, a 25-year-old man, is still in hospital and may require surgery to his face."

Mark Alderson, station manager at South Shore fire station, said: "We started to evacuate the people that were trapped at the high level.

"These casualties were the 'walking wounded' and only had minor injuries.

"They were removed from the carriages and away from the incident to a casualty clearing station.

Investigation under way

"The more seriously injured were stabilised in position. We then took the casualties from the ride in stretchers and down on to the ground level using specialist rope rescue equipment."

Ian Bell, head of Coaster Force, a group dedicated to rollercoasters at attraction parks, said the crash was one of the worst he had seen for two years.

Engineers have been at the site (Pic: Stewart Hetherington)
He said: "It may be an old ride, but that does not mean it is not safe. The older (they are) the more checks they have - it certainly won't stop me from going on it.

"It's one of my favourite rides in Blackpool."

A spokesman for Blackpool Pleasure Beach said that an investigation was under way to establish the cause of the incident.

He said: "The Big Dipper will remain closed while investigations continue but all other rides at Pleasure Beach will open as usual.

"The Pleasure Beach team are working closely with the emergency services and the Health and Safety Executive."

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said an inspector attended shortly after the accident.

Engineers have been at the site (Pic: Stewart Hetherington)

_________________
Regards

Jim

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