Go-kart firm fined following girl’s death
Posted: 7th November 2013
Posted in: Neck Injuries Personal Injury Public Place Accidents Wrongful & Accidental Death
The company responsible for the recent death of 18-year-old Suzanne Cornwell has been fined £10,000 for breaching health and safety laws. When Miss Cornwell’s scarf became tangled in her go-kart in December 2009, she suffered “critical” neck injuries and was unconscious when paramedics arrived at the Cambridgeshire raceway.
Miss Cornwell, from Hardwick, had been at an out-of-hours go-karting session with friends when her scarf became tangled in the axle of her kart. The company – Peterborough Raceway Ltd – and the manager at the time – Paul Shinn – both pleaded guilty to a breach of health and safety.
‘Equipment in poor condition’
Following a Police investigation, it was discovered that the company had an ineffective method of health and safety risk assessments, and that its staff were poorly trained. The investigation also highlighted that the track did not have enough marshals on duty and that the premises and equipment in use were of a poor quality and condition.
Peterborough Raceway Ltd was fined £8,500 and ordered to cover £4,000 costs. The manager of the time Paul Shinn was fined £1,700.
A statement, released on behalf of the defendants, said: “The judge said he wanted to make it clear the prosecution had not established any causal link between the offences and the tragic incident.”
The track has been closed since the accident and no longer operates at that site.
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