A branch of charity Age Concern has been fined £10,000 following the death of an elderly woman after a minibus accident.
Olive Sarti suffered a broken neck and injured her head when the vehicle made an emergency stop which threw her from her wheelchair.
The 88-year-old was taken to hospital after the incident on Shirland Road, London, in September 2006, but died several weeks later on 11 November.
A post-mortem examination found that the injuries she suffered in the accident contributed to her death.
Employees of Age Concern Westminster had failed to secure Ms Sarti in her wheelchair, City of London Magistrates’ Court heard.
The court also heard that staff had not been properly trained to make sure wheelchair-users travelled safely.
Age Concern Westminster of Praed Street, Westminster, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was ordered to pay £5,000 in costs as well as the fine.
