Inquest hears man likely lost control of car on greasy road

A YOUNG man who was wearing his seatbelt died after his car hit a greasy patch on the road and ploughed into another car.

Cork Coroner’s Court heard how Stephen Hayes, 24, from Cashel, Co Tipperary, died from massive head injuries in Cork University Hospital on June 23, 2006, five days after the accident on the main Cork to Dublin road.

The inquest into his death was told that Mr Hayes was driving two friends, Joseph Breen and Ellen Croke, in his Toyota Corolla south towards Cashel when they entered a sweeping left-hand bend at Ballytrasna, close to the Horse and Jockey, at about 3pm on Sunday, June 18.

Mr Breen was in the front seat and Ms Croke was in the back. All three occupants were wearing their seat belts.

Mr Breen said it was a bend Mr Hayes knew well and he wasn’t speeding. “We were taking it handy,” he said.

But halfway through the bend, Mr Breen said he felt the car “twitch”.

“We passed out one car a few minutes earlier. But about 10 to 15 seconds later, I felt the car twitch,” he said.

“It wobbled, the back of it went. Stephen hit the brakes but it just took off.

“The front of the car gave a slide. It slid across the road. There was nothing we could do.”

The car slid across the road and ploughed side-on, passenger side first, into a Peugeot 406 being driven by Carlow man Eddie Byrne in the opposite direction.

Mr Byrne said he tried to take evasive action and turned his wheel to the left, but the Corolla hit.

“There was no stopping him. It was as if he was on ice,” Mr Byrne said.

His passengers, Sabrina Murphy, and her daughter, Caitlin, five, were both injured in the severe impact.

Caitlin is still recovering from leg and back injuries sustained in the crash.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and found Mr Hayes slumped unconscious across the front seat, with his head on Mr Breen’s lap.

He was rushed to Our Lady’s Hospital in Cashel and later transferred to Cork University Hospital where he died of massive head injuries on June 23.

PSV inspector Garda John Galvin said tests showed that the Toyota was well maintained and in a roadworthy condition before the accident.

However, Sergeant John Moore, a forensic collision investigator, said he found a contaminant — possibly engine oil mixed with water — on a section of the south-bound lane just before the accident site. “It was slippy underfoot,” he said.

It had rained that afternoon for the first time in two weeks and Sgt Moore said it was not unusual for such contaminants to be found on road surfaces after rain.

The inquest was told that on the balance of probabilities, it was most likely Mr Hayes hit the greasy spot and simply lost control of his car.

Sgt Moore urged motorists to reduce their speed when it rains after prolonged dry spells.

Cork city coroner Dr Myra Cullinane described the accident as “an absolute tragedy”.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

Dr Cullinane also praised the Hayes family for consenting to organ donation.