21 injured in Big Dipper accident

Passengers’ terror on Blackpool roller-coaster

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AN INVESTIGATION was underway today after 21 people were injured in a crash on a roller coaster.

One car had got stuck on Blackpool’s Big Dipper ride and was then shunted from behind by a following car, police said.

Three people were treated in hospital for facial, back and neck injuries, while 18 others were described by police as “walking wounded”.

They were all taken by ambulance to Blackpool Victoria Hospital for treatment following the accident, at around 7.50pm last night.

All 32 of the people on the ride at the time had to be rescued after the cars came to rest around 20ft off the ground.

Firemen employed a specialist rope team and used stretchers and spinal boards to release the trapped victims.

Lancashire Police said it is not clear yet what caused the accident.