Alton Towers operator fined £5million over Smiler crash
The operator of Alton Towers has been fined £5million over the Smiler ride crash.
Alton Towers operator Merlin Attractions has been fined £5million after admitting health and safety breaches over the Smiler rollercoaster crash.
Vicky Balch from Preston, who was then 19, lost her leg in the collision in June last year. Four others also suffered life changing injuries.
Stafford Crown Court heard that the victims had watched with disbelief and horror'' before ploughing into an empty carriage on the track, with the impact likened by the prosecution to a 90mph car crash.
The company was fined after the court heard that an engineer felt pressure'' to get Smiler back into service after it developed a fault shortly before the devastating crash.
An expert witness report, compiled by consultant Stephen Flanagan, also said Alton Towers management linked bonuses to acceptably low levels of downtime'' on their rollercoasters.