UKCoasterFan

BBC news 24 has just confirmed that 9 children and two adults have been injured. Emergency services are still with them, the more seriously injured have already been taken out of the park by ambulance services to hospital. They also said that it has been estimated that the coaster would have been travelling at around 35mph at the point the car left the track. They did not say if this information came from eye witnesses, the emergency services or the park itself.

This has only just happened, so unfortunately no further news at this time. Hope there are no fatalities: http://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/rollercoaster-mds-strathclyde-country-park-11527558

Going to visit Dreamland in Margate next month. Was going to go for the opening this month, but the newly built Scenic Railway will not be ready for opening day. So will be going Saturday 18 July instead

A 5th patient has today been announced. She went to hospital after suffering from internal bleeding, and its now said that she has a damaged liver. She was riding in the second row: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/revealed-fifth-victim-alton-towers-5846031

Could not agree with you more Robb. But the media over here is doing a grand job with their scare tactics at the moment. I wonder how many read this "30 accidents at Alton Towers in 3 years" headline without actually reading the full article: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/thirty-accidents-alton-towers-three-9397443 Some stations like ITV are trying to be objective by getting an enthusiast in to say how safe rides and parks are, but no one in the interview said they would return back to Alton Towers: http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2015-06-03/concerns-over-effect-of-alton-towers-crash-on-staffordshire-tourism-industry/ I guess some parents and schools are just taking the wait and stance at the moment.

It is indeed very sad news. Poor girl. All the school trips I know of that were going to Alton Towers next month have already been cancelled. Not saying every school in the country will have cancelled their trips, but I know of 6 trips that family, friends or collegues kids were going on, but they have all pulled out.

Ah right. You would have missed out on both parks then, as Loudoun Castle was open in 2004. You now have something else to look forward to the next time you visit No certifiedcoastergeek, M&D's does not have a inwards-facing Giant Frisbee. But there is a travelling fare in Glasgow Green every firework night that has one. Its pretty intense as well

The park is over on the West side of Scotland (just outside Glasgow). But our little country is so small that its only around 35-40 miles from Edinburgh to Glasgow (East to West)!! In all honesty, its not that well advertised, especially if you are in Edinburgh. In the winter when the park closes, they do take some of the rides on tour. Its quite heavily advertised on TV when that happens, as its around Christmas/New Year time. Glasgow also had another park, Loudoun Castle. I always preferred this park as they had a pretty decent S&S tower and a Schwarzkopf Looping Star that was relocated from Dreamland in Margate. Unfortunately, Loudoun has now closed M&D's is OK if you are in the area, but IMO its not the kind of park you would go out of your way to visit.

I really need to get back to Cedar Point. Have not been since Maverick's opening season. Maybe next year

While not a lot new to read in the actual article, there is a new video with an eye witness at the very bottom: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/11654706/Rollercoasters-across-Britain-shut-in-the-wake-of-Alton-Towers-crash.html

You can watch the full news report here Robb: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live/bbcnews If you are unable to view it (not sure if there are any country restrictions on BBC news), I can take some photo's of my screen and upload them somewhere for you. The fly over happens between 18:01 and 18:02. Its not the clearest footage, but if you pause it in the right place, you can see the front of the second car.

Nick Varney has been on tonight's BBC news talking a little more about the accident. For all those that are not in the UK and want to hear what he had to say, the interview can be seen here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33025024

Tornado is by far the worst ride I have ever been on. Rode it both with and without the corkscrew. The corkscrew was brutal. Even my camera blacked out when filming a POV !! It is slightly better now, but I still would not put myself through it again.

This is the latest news: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/04/alton-towers-crash-victim-tweets-his-gratitude-for-overwhelming-response

Sorry, I think you may has mis-understood my post Rob. Of course people will ride it again "when" it re-opens. If its open when I visit later in the year, I will ride again. That was my reaction to the previous posts regarding the petitions that have been started by the GP in the UK to get the ride closed. People have to be really upset or peeved to go as far as petitioning for something. Especially when there are comments getting reported by the press like: Vicky Costello posted: "i think the smiler should be closed. There have been way too many incidents with it and the most recent one tops it all!!!" That's all I was trying to say.