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| Alton Towers admits Smiler ride safety breaches | Alton Towers admits Smiler ride safety breaches |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The owner of Alton Towers has been told it faces a large fine after admitting responsibility for the Smiler rollercoaster crash. | |
| Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd indicated a guilty plea to charges of breaching the Health and Safety Act. | Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd indicated a guilty plea to charges of breaching the Health and Safety Act. |
| The firm's counsel, Simon Antrobus, told a court Merlin accepted it could have taken additional safety measures on the day of the crash. | |
| Two women had leg amputations after last June's crash. | Two women had leg amputations after last June's crash. |
| In total, 16 people were hurt when a carriage on the ride crashed into another static car on the track. | |
| Alton Towers: Live updates | |
| Crash aftermath 'like a horror film' | |
| District Judge John McGarva, sitting at North Staffordshire Justice Centre, said the incident was a very serious case which led to life-changing injuries. | District Judge John McGarva, sitting at North Staffordshire Justice Centre, said the incident was a very serious case which led to life-changing injuries. |
| Mr McGarva warned the firm it "may be ordered to pay a very large fine" when it is sentenced at Stafford Crown Court. | Mr McGarva warned the firm it "may be ordered to pay a very large fine" when it is sentenced at Stafford Crown Court. |
| The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told the court that while the ride was mechanically safe, there were not systems in place to tell staff when a static ride was on the tracks. | |
| A static train was shown on the computer, the court heard, but a member of staff did not see it and overrode the computer. | |
| Merlin had previously admitted responsibility for the crash after carrying out an internal investigation into the incident. | |
| The five most seriously injured victims - Vicky Balch, Chanda Chauhan, Joe Pugh, Daniel Thorpe and Leah Washington - were all present in court with their families. | |
| A statement from Stewarts Law, which represents the five victims, said the guilty plea was "a milestone" for its clients. | |
| "It is comforting for the families that a plea of guilty has been entered rather than the victims having to endure a drawn out trial," they said. | |
| "Regrettably the physical recovery will be a lifelong process." | |
| Neil Craig, HSE head of operations in the Midlands, also welcomed the guilty plea. | |
| "The incident was profoundly distressing for everyone involved, both physically and mentally," he said. | |
| A spokesman for Merlin said the company took "full responsibility" for the crash and "co-operated fully" with the HSE from the beginning of the investigation. | |
| They added: "We have sought to provide help and support to all those injured in the accident and will continue to do so." | |
| Speaking for the first time about the crash, Chanda Chauhan, who was on the ride, said the aftermath was like "a horror movie". | Speaking for the first time about the crash, Chanda Chauhan, who was on the ride, said the aftermath was like "a horror movie". |