Accidents Involving Injury at Runaway Mine Train

Official U.S. federal and state data on theme park accidents is almost nonexistent. That's why Theme Park Insider users are creating this visitor-maintained database of theme park accidents--to give public at least some information about attraction safety records.

Do you know of, or have been part of, an accident involving injury at Runaway Mine Train? Report it to Theme Park Insider.

(If you are looking for general information about Runaway Mine Train, please visit Theme Park Insider's reader reviews for Runaway Mine Train.)

Verified Incidents

7/20/2006 - Submitted by dastar on 7/20/2006

At alton towers today at about 11:00am the runaway mine train had an accident. as it was going around the track the end part of the train came off and rolled back crashing in to the front part. Two people were tken to hospital in an air ambulance and another was driven to the hospital. alton towers do not know what caused this accident but they are investigating now.

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Follow-up:
This is true. I was there shortly after the accident, just coming off the rapids. 29 people were injured in total, 25 only had minor injuries and were treated on site, while others were badly injured and took to hostpital. 2 people were so seriously injured they had to be taken to hostpital by helicopter. -- Submitted by rowan08 on 7/20/2006

Went to alton towers a week ago and was speaking to one of the paramedics in the first aid department regarding this accident. Air ambulances were called not becasue of serious injuries but becasue only one ambulance could get to the park in time, therefore the only option was to deploy air ambulances. Alton towers and i think all theme parks have response times that have to be met when accidents happen and this was not possible if they were to wait for normal ambulances. The paramedic said that the injuries were mainly whiplash and that everyone was now ok. -- Submitted by noodle on 8/26/2006

I was there standing on the bridge on top of were the accident happened, the first carrage went under the bridge and came out by the side of it but as it went up a hill it slowed down and the next second was going back the way it came. Everyone on the ride was laughing at first because they thouight it was some sort of a joke but then a carrage came up the track at a really fast pace and hit the back of the first carrage. The people on both carrages were thrown forwars in there seat like if a person was in a car crash, both carrages then proceded to roll backwards under the bridge i was standing on. It was very frightening to see and put me of going on the rides for a while. -- Submitted by Rachel_Jessica_Downs on 7/20/2006

I read something like this in the paper but I did not know if it was true. I remember many happy times on that ride as a young child so I did not believe it. However when I was there the other day it was shut but staff just said it had broken down. When we was in the queue for the rapids we heard a boy say that two women had been killed when part of the bridge fell on them. Is this true as well? -- Submitted by smellybelly on 8/18/2006

For information, smelly belly's report is not correct - no-one was killed. Here's a statement from Grayam Barnes, a UK Health and Safety Executive Inspector, given the day after the accident, following his initial inspection. "A component in the coupling mechanism at the front of the train failed, leading the train operator to hit the emergency stop button. A gap developed between the front and rear of the train, the rear of the train came to a gradual stop in the tunnel, the front carriages continued up a slight incline and rolled back into the rear of the train at a relatively slow speed." He also commented "All fairground and theme park rides are subject to annual Safety Inspections and an appropriate certificate was issued to Alton Towers, and their records were up to date and no fault was found with the daily inspections." As part of his initial finds he has made recommendations for the future operation of this ride to ensure that this incident could not reoccur. The findings will be referred back to the manufacturer Mack to issue a techinical bulletin to other operators of this ride. Alton Towers have confirmed that the ride will re-open for the 2007 season. -- Submitted by marky.com on 9/28/2006

i was on that ride with my girlfriend when it happened we thought we were gonna die we held on tight after the carriage broke we were on the front half so when we stopped we started to roll and gather speed we then collided with the other half about 20 -30 miles an hour the train then broke into 3. i can honestly say i was scared to death.it took about 30mins for eveyone to get off, there was women and children screaming in fear it was one experience id like to forget. i can honestly say i wont be going again. -- Submitted by kennylee on 2/13/2007

Unverified Reports

I was there the day it happened There was a power surge when I was on skyride so we got stuck in mid forest we got off to go on the train but it was closed did not know why until bus home scary thought as we could have been on it just 20 minutes later!

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

As the train was entering the station a girl stuck out her leg. Her ankle became trapped between the station and the train. She was released and an air ambulance was called. She is currently having reconstuctive surgery on her ankle it was so badly smashed. MORAL: Do NOT stick out your leg at any time whilst on the RMT

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

A bottle was thrown from the rapids ride, onto the passing runaway mine train ride. A 26 year old woman obtained serious bruising below her eye. There is an appeal for more information on the linked website as legal action is being taken by the park.

For more information about this incident, visit http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=67702&command=displayContent&sourceNode=67701&contentPK=10055339

If you have additional information that can confirm, clarify or refute any of these reports, please e-mail the editor! (Please don't forget to include the attraction's name in your message.)

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