Published 14 June 2024 at 11.06
Foreign. Today the National Accident Commission has presented its report on the accident at Gröna Lund 2023 when one woman died and several others were seriously injured. Gröna Lund AB and two other companies are now suspected of serious crimes.
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On June 25, a roller coaster train crashed in Gröna Lund with eleven passengers when the front support arm of the train broke. One person died and two others fell from the carriage, one of whom was seriously injured. Several other passengers suffered internal and external injuries when they were thrown forward against the carriages' safety bars.
The criminal investigation is ongoing and the police have so far carried out extensive interrogations, technical examinations of the train carriages and material analyses.
– Our investigation is far from over. Now that we also have access to the accident commission's complete report, a new phase will come and this may mean that we change the suspicions that have been notified so far or will direct new suspicions, says Christer B. Jarlås, prosecutor at the National Unit for Environmental and Work Environment Cases.
The investigation has led to the conclusion that three companies have been served with suspicion for the crimes of grossly causing the death of another, grossly causing bodily harm and causing danger to another. They may be subject to a corporate fine. The companies are Gröna Lund AB as the responsible fairground owner and two western Swedish companies that have been involved in the manufacture of the current front support arm.– Gröna Lund AB is suspected of having failed to control the company to which the order of fairground parts was sent and of their ability to perform work in the manner required. The investigation also shows a lack of control upon receipt and inadequate inspection of the ordered carrier arms when they were mounted on the Jetline train, says the prosecutor.
When the accident occurred, the carriages' safety bars were bent forward after the heavy braking. Three passengers fell from their carriages.
– The stirrups have caused serious internal injuries to passengers who were pressed against them. Instead of protecting, the safety bars have caused damage. If there had been another protection solution, for example seat belts, the passengers would have with a high degree of probability fared better, says Christer B. Jarlås.
The company that received the order and invoiced as well as the company that carried out the manufacturing itself, is suspected of having manufactured front support arms in a way that does not comply with Swedish standards. In addition, the delivery deviates from the order and does not meet the requirements for manufacturing parts for rides. The companies have also failed to control the manufactured support arms. The companies deny all suspicions of crime.
Gröna Lund AB is awaiting further investigation before taking a position on the suspicions.
No natural person has so far been notified of suspicion of crime and there are currently no timetable for when a decision on the prosecution will be made.