The two young women who each lost a leg in the Smiler rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers are suing the owners of the park for millions of pounds. Vicky Balch, 23, and Leah Washington, 20, were both sitting in the front seats when the ride slammed into a stationary carriage.

Yes, the tragic accident on The Smiler at Alton Towers on June 2, 2015, resulted in life-altering limb injuries for several passengers. The most widely reported cases involved Leah Washington and Vicky Balch. Leah Washington, who was 17 at the time, had her left leg amputated above the knee after it was crushed in the collision. Similarly, Vicky Balch eventually underwent an above-the-knee amputation of her right leg after numerous surgeries failed to save it. Other passengers also suffered severe leg injuries; Joe Pugh had both of his kneecaps shattered and faced a grueling recovery to walk again, while Daniel Thorpe suffered a punctured lung and lower leg fractures. The incident occurred when a carriage full of riders collided with a stationary, empty test carriage on the track. In 2026, the survivors continue to be prominent advocates for disability awareness and personal injury safety standards following the record-breaking £5 million fine levied against the park's operator.