Theme Park Insider

Get News by E-mail

Major bus crash on way to Alton Towers theme park in England

By Robert Niles
Published: August 18, 2008 at 5:45 PM
A double-decker bus carrying tourists to the Alton Towers theme park in the United Kingdom crashed Monday, killing one and injuring 70 others, according to the BBC.

Thirty-one of the injured were taken to local hospitals. The others were treated at the theme park's first aid center. The bus, which was reported to be carrying foreign workers on a trip to the park, rolled down an embankment, after coming down a hill and missing a curve.

"It's a narrow country road," a witness told the BBC. "It's mayhem, absolute mayhem. We had a torrential downpour of rain just before it happened."

Readers' Opinions

From Daniel Cernuschi on August 19, 2008 at 6:33 AM
I am from England and go to Alton Towers frequenty. I must admit, I have no idea how bus' get to the park. I live in the south and to get to the park you must drive through small villages and tiny roads that go up and down hills. There is one bit where it is sooo small and steep, a mini would find it hard.

There were plans to build a new road, I dont know if thats still going ahead. Really feel sorry for the people on the bus.

From Eli Katzman on August 19, 2008 at 8:27 AM
Rain + narrow road = crash. That's probably how it happened. I also feel bad for the people on the bus, and hope most of them aren't seriously hurt.

This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.

Previous article: Vote of the week: The best Disney mountain?

Search Theme Park Insider

Reader Reviews, by Theme Park

United States/Canada Top 20 *

Other U.S. parks

International parks

Water parks

Theme Park Insider on Twitter

@ThemePark

New HD video of Cedar Point's Millennium Force: http://bit.ly/5u8iiI That'll fire up your Friday!
2009-11-20 18:02 Link

By the way, @HolidayWorld. We're demanding cranberry sauce on the turkey next time! :-) http://bit.ly/6zDSup
2009-11-20 17:34 Link

Our vote of the week: Holiday traditions and cranberry sauce: http://bit.ly/6zDSup
2009-11-20 17:32 Link

Five Disney legends recall Walt's management style: http://bit.ly/uhv5B #IAAPA2009
2009-11-20 00:00 Link

Theme Park Reviews, Features, Advice

Theme Park News Archive

2009

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov.

2008

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2007

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2006

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2005

Dec.

2004-2005

Staff column archive