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| Alton Towers operator to be sentenced for Smiler crash | Alton Towers operator to be sentenced for Smiler crash |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Alton Towers's operator Merlin is due to be sentenced later for the crash on the £18m Smiler rollercoaster. | Alton Towers's operator Merlin is due to be sentenced later for the crash on the £18m Smiler rollercoaster. |
| Sixteen people were injured in the crash last June, including two teenage girls who needed leg amputations. | Sixteen people were injured in the crash last June, including two teenage girls who needed leg amputations. |
| In April, Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd admitted breaching the Health and Safety Act. | In April, Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd admitted breaching the Health and Safety Act. |
| In November the theme park said the accident was caused by "human error." Prosecutors have argued fault was with the employer not individuals. | In November the theme park said the accident was caused by "human error." Prosecutors have argued fault was with the employer not individuals. |
| The court heard on Monday how engineers failed to notice a carriage that had stopped midway around the 14-loop ride. | |
| They assumed there was a problem with the computer and over-rode the stop mechanism setting another train in motion and into the empty carriage. | They assumed there was a problem with the computer and over-rode the stop mechanism setting another train in motion and into the empty carriage. |
| Bernard Thorogood, prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive, had argued workers had not been been given a system to follow which would safely deal with the issue. | Bernard Thorogood, prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive, had argued workers had not been been given a system to follow which would safely deal with the issue. |
| He said engineers on the day had not read or seen the ride's operating instructions. | He said engineers on the day had not read or seen the ride's operating instructions. |
| He also pointed out there were estimated winds on the day of the crash 45mph but the manufacturers manual stated the ride should not be operated at wind speeds above 34mph. | He also pointed out there were estimated winds on the day of the crash 45mph but the manufacturers manual stated the ride should not be operated at wind speeds above 34mph. |
| Simon Antrobus, defending Merlin, had argued the operator was the most reputable in the field. He also said the company accepted the crash should never have happened. | Simon Antrobus, defending Merlin, had argued the operator was the most reputable in the field. He also said the company accepted the crash should never have happened. |
| The Smiler reopened in March. | The Smiler reopened in March. |
| Since the crash, a number of safety changes have been made including improved access and a policy of closing the ride when winds exceed 35mph. | Since the crash, a number of safety changes have been made including improved access and a policy of closing the ride when winds exceed 35mph. |