Inquest jury calls for street lighting at accident blackspot

A JURY at an inquest has called for the installation of street lighting at an accident blackspot following the death of a father-of-four whose car was struck from behind by another vehicle.

Patrick Kelly, aged 63, of Marshalstown, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, was driving home on February 5, 2010, when a car impacted with the rear of his Volkswagen Golf on the N11 at Moyne Middle, Enniscorthy.

Mr Kelly had just entered the road from a slip road linking the old Dublin Road and the N11. He was wearing a seatbelt, but was thrown on to the back seat of the car and suffered severe head injuries.

He died at Beaumont Hospital on February 25.

His wife, who was a front-seat passenger in the car, was also injured.

Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard there was no street lighting at the location where the crash occurred.

Garda Pat Fielding of Enniscorthy Garda station said it was “a very dark area of the road”.

There have been other incidents at the location, including another fatal incident since Mr Kelly’s death, within 600 to 700 metres of the scene of the accident.

The jury, under the direction of coroner Dr Brian Farrell, returned a verdict of accidental death.

The jury called for the installation of street lighting on the stretch of road to limit the risk of further crashes.

The jury also called from a review of signage at the location and for the erection of a sign indicating the presence of a dangerous junction if one is not in place already.

The other vehicle, a Nissan Skyline, which was driven by Szymon Gniadek, was not in roadworthy condition due to a defective tyre, which could have had a “slight effect” on the braking, Garda Stuart O’Sullivan, a public service vehicle inspector, said.

Mr Gniadek, said he “saw the side of the car right in front of” him.

Mr Gniadek pressed the brake and tried to turn away from the vehicle, but was unable to avoid the collision.

“I don’t know how I didn’t see the car until it came out in front of me, but I also don’t know how he didn’t see me,” he said.

A back-seat passenger in Mr Gniadek’s car, Gary Ryan, said the car just pulled out in front of them.

Front-seat passenger, Patrick Gethings, said there was “absolutely nothing” that Mr Gniadek could have done to avoid the collision.