Merlin to be prosecuted by Health and Safety Executive over Alton Towers Smiler crash, in which two passengers had to undergo leg amputations
Alton Towers parent company Merlin Entertainments is to be prosecuted over last year's Smiler crash, in which five people were seriously injured.
The Health and Safety Executive said today that Merlin Attractions would appear at North Staffordshire Justice Centre, Newcastle-under-Lyme on 22 April to face a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Two female passengers were forced to undergo leg amputations and three others were also seriously injured when their carriage collided with a stationary carriage on the same track. The incident happened on 2 June 2015.
Neil Craig, head of operations for HSE in the Midlands, said: “We have today informed Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd that it will be prosecuted for breaching health and safety law.
“This was a serious incident with life-changing consequences for five people. We have conducted a very thorough investigation and consider that there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to bring a prosecution.”
Last year Merlin said the accident was caused by "human error".
The company, which will make multi-million pound payouts to the women, said the ride will re-open at some point in 2016.
More to follow