One of the Northern Territory's most prominent tourism operators along with its boss and a mechanic employed to work for them are facing millions of dollars in fines over alleged modifications to a bus that crashed and killed one of its passengers in June 2022.
NT Worksafe alleges Emu Run Tours, Patrick Bedford who owns the company, and mechanic Ian Jackson breached the Work Health and Safety Act in 2022 on 11 occasions.
Its investigation alleges that the bus was modified to use four wheels instead of its originally fitted six and that the tyres fitted to the vehicle after the modifications were not compliant with the manufacturer's specifications.
In September 2022, police prosecutors dropped charges against Mr Bedford due to insufficient evidence to proceed.
At the time, prosecutors told the court that police and NT Worksafe would continue their investigation and the Director of Public Prosecutions said the matter would be revisited to determine whether prosecution for either work safety or a criminal breach was warranted.
If found guilty, the fines for each charge for the company could total $5 million, while Mr Bedford could be fined a maximum of $1 million, and $500,000 for Mr Jackson.
Crash left tourists with 'life-changing' injuries
The crash in June 2022 occurred along Larapinta Drive near the remote community of Hermannsburg where the bus was carrying two workers and 19 passengers who were on the way back to Alice Springs that evening.
A tyre blew out and the driver lost control of the vehicle before it rolled over.
A 69-year-old man died at the scene, while a 67-year-old woman was taken to an intensive care unit.
Three other women, at the time aged 62, 67 and 70, were also hospitalised with serious injuries.
In a statement yesterday, Northern Territory Police confirmed they had concluded their investigation and supplied evidence to NT Worksafe, which announced the charges today.
Police described the injuries to the interstate and international tourists as "significant and life-changing".
The charges allege Emu Run Tours failed to ensure the health and safety of the passengers and exposed other road users to a health and safety risk, and that Mr Bedford breached his duty as an officer resulting in workers being injured and passengers being injured and killed.
Mr Jackson is accused as a worker of failing to ensure his "acts or omission do not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons".
Mr Bedford has been contacted for comment.
The matters are scheduled to be heard in Darwin Local Court on July 2, 2024.