Following the guilty plea from Merlin Entertainments related to last year’s Smiler rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released a statement and images of the car involved in the accident.
In a hearing last week, Merlin admitted breaching health and safety laws, meaning the firm will face an unlimited fine, expected to be in the millions of pounds, when it is sentenced at a later date.
A total of 16 people were injured in June last year when their carriage collided with an empty one. Of the 16, five were seriously injured, including two people who underwent leg amputations.
“We welcome the guilty plea entered by Merlin,” said the HSE statement. “Merlin has acknowledged that it failed in its legal duty to protect people on the Smiler ride.
“Those injured on 2 June last year had every right to expect a carefree and fun day out.
“The incident was profoundly distressing for everyone involved, both physically and mentally. It left some with life changing injuries.
“We hope this first milestone will help those affected to continue their recovery from this tragic incident.”
The Smiler reopened for the first time in March. The ride has since been equipped with new safety features, including technical improvements. Staff have also been given additional training.
The park has also added further protocols to the manual override process so that a senior staff member has to authorise and action the decision. Additional surveillance cameras and additional staff inspection checks have also been put in place.
