Fine for Lightwater Valley theme park

Prosecutions and Claims |
01.02.2007

The HSE has secured fines totalling £157,000 over the death of a 20-year-old student at Lightwater Valley theme park, North Yorkshire, in June 2001. Gemma Savage was killed when two cars collided on the Treetop Twister rollercoaster. After one car failed to clear a hill, maintenance electrician Eric Butters used manual controls to return the cars to the station. This action, combined with a wiring fault, caused the two cars to collide. Butters pleaded guilty to breaching Section 7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £2,500 plus £500 costs. Lightwater Valley Attractions was fined £35,000 plus £40,000 costs for breaching Section 3(1) of the Act. After a four-day trial the ride's French manufacturer, Société Reverchon Industries, was found guilty of two offences and fined £120,000 plus £55,000 costs.