Tractor driver could not avoid bike

A YOUNG farmer whose tractor collided with a motorcyclist, killing him instantly, said he could not have avoided the crash.

Conor Michael Tuohy of Ballyvoholane, Kill, Co Waterford, was wearing a helmet at the time of the tragedy.

The 21-year-old suffered multiple injuries in the collision, including an extensive fracture to the base of the scull, Dr Robert Taite revealed in an inquest into the young man’s death.

David Phelan recalled in his statement to the inquest that he and his father run a farm in Portlaw in Co Waterford. On May 12 last year, he was working with the farm relief service and was returning to that farm on the farmer’s tractor. As he passed through an area known as Carroll’s Cross, he saw a motorbike coming towards him at speed. He said the motorcyclist tried to slow down, but the bike began to wobble and ploughed into the right front wheel of the tractor.

Mr Phelan said he immediately got off the tractor, saw the motorcyclist on the ground and summoned help. Garda David Halpin, who is stationed at Kill, said he arrived at the scene to find the motorcyclist lying on the ground, with his helmet on. He said Mr Phelan told him he couldn’t avoid the bike and it came straight at him.

Dr Robert Taite, who performed a post mortem on the young man, said he had suffered an extensive fracture to the base of the skull. Some of his ribs were also fractured and his liver was torn. He said death was due to multiple injuries, including a fractured skull and much bleeding about the brain.