An East London-based go-karting company must pay over $150,000 in compensation after a teenage girl was strangled by her hijab at its facilities. In August of 2021, Ruwaida Adan’s headscarf was reportedly hanging out of her helmet while she was driving and got caught in the round axle of the ride.
Although paramedics called to the scene were able to resuscitate and transport Adan to the hospital, she passed away four days later due to asphyxiation and a hypoxic brain injury.
According to the Daily Mail, the hefty penalty comes after Capital Karts failed to inform the 15-year-old to remove her headscarf before driving. Although instructive posters around the venue asked participants to tie back their hair and remove loose clothing, Adan and her friends were not asked to review them.
The council investigated the tragic incident and found that, in addition to no safety checks occurring the day Adan visited Capital Karts, her kart had missing and damaged parts. “Her kart might not have been looked at by a mechanic for over a month, while the guard could have been missing for some time.”
Addressing the court, the jury explained that “no safety check ensured that Ruwaida removed her headscarf before getting into her go-kart. No daily mechanics check was carried out on August 6, 2021. In Ruwaida’s kart, the plastic drive belt guard to the rear axle was absent, and the rear seat shield was damaged.”
The jury added: “Both should cover exposed moving parts. Ruwaida’s scarf became entangled in the moving parts, resulting in her asphyxiation and her death on August 10, 2021.”
The operational director for enforcement, regulatory, and community safety at the council, Gary Jones, similarly expressed his shock at the lack of safety protocols in place.
“It’s clear that not enough was done to prevent this tragic accident and I welcome the result of this case. Health and safety management has to be real and demonstrable. The quality of written manuals and procedures is irrelevant without proper systems to ensure the implementation and monitoring of measures to control risks.”
Jones continued that he hoped the ruling would send a “strong message” to similar businesses on how important safety measures are.
On April 3, the Romford Magistrates Court ruled that Capital Karts Trading must pay a fine of $113,000, costs of $50,000 and a victim surcharge of over $300.
After the verdict was announced, the victim’s mother expressed her relief that Capital Karts was being held accountable for her daughter’s death.
“In the wake of the tragic loss of our beloved Ruwaida, we are relieved to finally see Capital Karts held accountable for what happened on August 6, 2021. We express our heartfelt gratitude to the presiding judge and to Barking and Dagenham Council for bringing this prosecution,” she said, adding that her daughter’s absence has left an “irreplaceable void” in her and her family’s lives.
“Ruwaida’s memory will forever live on in our hearts, and we pray that her tragic loss serves as a catalyst for positive change in safety regulations within the go-karting industry.”
Although Capital Karts pleaded guilty to a different offense in March of last year under “s3(1) Health and Safety at Work Act 1974,” it has since closed its East London location and opened another venue at Cabot Square in Canary Wharf.
