Fiat changes car design after fatal crash

THE Fiat motor company had made changes to the design of its Punto car following a fatal crash in Kerry last year, an inquest heard yesterday.

An American tourist suffered multiple injuries and had both her legs severed after the hired Punto she was driving collided with a Bus Éireann coach on the main Tralee/Killarney road, on May 12, according to evidence.

The death of Ruth Dickerson, 64, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, led Garda public service vehicle inspector Jim O’Brien to highlight a design feature of the car with its manufacturer, and to a warning from the coroner at the inquest in Kenmare.

After hearing evidence that gardaí had written to Fiat to complain about the design, which meant the bar underneath the steering pump severed the driver’s legs on collision, coroner Terence Casey urged car hire companies not to hire such cars to tourists.

“A lot of tourists have accidents on Irish roads and driving these vehicles gives no protection whatsoever,” Mr Casey said.

Garda O’Brien, who examined the scene and the vehicle, said Fiat had responded to the Garda letter, which was based on a number of incidents, and said its new Punto cars were being fitted with knee air bags.

Bus Éireann driver Maurice O’Brien, who had 42 years’ experience, had finished his scheduled run from Limerick to Killarney and was on his way to the bus depot in Tralee at 8.25pm.

After rounding the bend at Brennan’s Glen, he saw a car coming from the Tralee direction. It crossed the centre white line and, in the split second before the accident, he saw the driver’s head bent over the steering wheel. Mr O’Brien said he did everything he could to avoid a collision.

Gda O’Brien said the accident occurred entirely on the Bus Éireann coach’s side of the road and both vehicles had been damaged. The hired car had sustained enormous damage, with its engine and gear box torn out.

A jury returned a verdict of death due to a road traffic accident and Mr Casey said there was no blame attached to the bus driver.

Ms Dickerson, whose grandmother had been from Sneem, was on holiday to visit friends in south Kerry, the inquest heard.