Lightwater Valley is to be prosecuted after a boy fell from the Twister rollercoaster last year.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been conducting an investigation since the incident on 30 May 2019.
The then seven-year-old child was for a short time in a critical condition with head injuries, before being discharged from hospital after two weeks.
He fell a reported 15 feet from the Twister rollercoaster, which has since been removed from the North Yorkshire theme park.
A HSE spokesman said: “Following the investigation by HSE, Lightwater Valley Attractions Ltd, of Sherborne, Dorset, will face a charge under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.”
‘Full co-operation’
Lightwater Valley said it has co-operated fully with the investigation.
The park’s chief executive Ian Cunningham said the incident had “greatly affected” all of those involved.
“The thoughts of everyone at Lightwater Valley are with the young boy who was injured and his family,” he said.
“I want to again say how personally sorry I am for the distress it has caused.
“We accept HSE’s decision to proceed to a prosecution and have cooperated fully throughout their investigation.”
He added: “Since the incident we have been providing support and assistance to the family and will continue to do so.”
‘Slid out’
Images appear to show that the boy came to rest at the bottom of the rollercoaster’s second drop, the lowest and fastest point of the ride.
Eyewitness Simon Moran indicated that the boy fell from the ride close to where the on-ride photograph is taken.
He Tweeted: “As it went down the fast bit towards the ‘souvenir’ camera, he slid out and over the top of the carriage.”