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Owner of Alton Towers to be prosecuted over Smiler crash

The owner of Alton Towers is to be prosecuted over the Smiler rollercoaster accident in which five people were seriously injured last June, the Health and Safety Executive has announced.

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  1. Chris Halpin

Alton Towers face prosecution over Smiler coaster crash

The owner of Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire is to be prosecuted over a rollercoaster crash which left five people with life changing injuries.

Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd will appear in court in April accused of breaching health and safety law.

The announcement by the Health and Safety Executive came on the same day the company announced a rise in profits. Chris Halpin reports.

Alton Towers statement over Smiler HSE prosecution

General view of the Smiler roller coaster in operation. Credit: ITV News Central

Responding to the announcement that the Health & Safety Executive will be prosecuting Alton Towers over last year's crash on the Smiler roller coaster, a spokesperson for the theme park said:

“We have cooperated fully with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) throughout their investigation while continuing to support those who were injured in the accident.

The company completed its own investigation and published the results in November, accepting responsibility for what happened. We have also kept the HSE fully informed of the subsequent actions that we have taken to ensure that something like this cannot happen again.”

– Alton Towers statement

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