I was in the rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers. It was like hitting a car at 90mph
Published: 6/2/2025

Leah Washington-Pugh and Joe Pugh, seriously injured in the Alton Towers' Smiler rollercoaster crash, recall the incident as equivalent to hitting a car at 90mph. Despite the trauma, the couple, now married, express their happiness and journey of recovery. The crash led to operator Merlin being fined £5m, highlighting an industry expert's view that lessons have been learned about amusement park safety since the unprecedented 2015 incident.