{"id":17641,"date":"2020-09-28T06:16:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-28T10:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/?p=17641"},"modified":"2020-09-28T06:16:00","modified_gmt":"2020-09-28T10:16:00","slug":"dreamworld-accident-australian-theme-park-fined-over-four-deaths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2020\/09\/28\/dreamworld-accident-australian-theme-park-fined-over-four-deaths\/","title":{"rendered":"Dreamworld accident: Australian theme park fined over four deaths"},"content":{"rendered":"

The operator of Australia’s Dreamworld theme park has been fined A$3.6m (\u00a32m; $2.5m) over the deaths of four people on a malfunctioning water ride.<\/p>\n

Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozbeh Araghi and Cindy Low died in October 2016 when their raft crashed into another and overturned, crushing them.<\/p>\n

Park operator Ardent Leisure admitted in July to breaching safety laws.<\/p>\n

The company said it accepted responsibility and had worked to improve safety standards.<\/p>\n

The four victims – all adults – died almost instantly after the Thunder River Rapids Ride rafts collided, an inquiry heard in 2018. Two children were also on board but survived.<\/p>\n

The accident at Australia’s biggest theme park was caused by a pump that malfunctioned near the end of the ride.<\/p>\n

On Monday, a court said the company had failed in its duty of care and should have taken steps to make the ride safer.<\/p>\n

“Steps were not that complex or burdensome and only mildly inconvenient and really were inexpensive,” Magistrate Pamela Dowse said.<\/p>\n

“They operated the most iconic amusement park in the country, which targeted and attracted families.<\/p>\n

“There was complete and blind trust placed in the defendant by every guest who rode the Thunder River Rapids Ride.”<\/p>\n

\"Picture<\/span><\/div>\n

The raft carrying passengers flipped in the collision<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The size of the fine reflected the severity of the company’s failure, she added. Ardent had been facing a maximum A$4.5m fine.<\/p>\n

Chief executive John Osborne said: “Ardent accepts responsibility for this tragedy, and we fully accept the consequences.”<\/p>\n

Families of the victims also delivered statements to the sentencing court on Monday, expressing grief and anger over their loss.<\/p>\n