Woman sues over hen party kart crash

A party of 15 English girls decided to really sample life in the fast lane during a bride’s hen party trip to Dublin three years ago, a judge was told yesterday.

But it proved a pain in the neck for 29-year-old Karen Wimpory after having been rear-ended in a traffic jam just off the Naas road outside Dublin.

Barrister Fiona Crawford told the Circuit Civil Court the rear-ending with a difference took place on a race-karting track in the Kylemore Industrial Estate, Killeen Rd, Dublin, in Mar 2009.

She said Ms Wimpory, of Braywick Rd, Maidenhead, Berkshire, had joined 13 other friends in accompanying bride-to-be Jenny Pallet on a hen party trip to Dublin.

As part of the celebration they decided to try go-kart racing at Kylemore Indoor Karting’s racetrack.

Ms Wimpory told the court the party watched a safety video before donning helmets for action on the track and had done a four-circuit warm-up.

She claimed that as they were approaching the end of the practice run she and other racers were forced to brake abruptly because a race marshal stepped onto the track and was waving them towards the pits for the start of the race.

She said another driver crashed into the back of her kart suddenly, pushing her neck and shoulders backwards.

Ms Wimpory told Peter O’Brien, counsel for Grovepark Services Ltd, which trades as Kylemore Karting, that the safety video she saw did not include any warning about traffic warning lights on the racetrack.

She said she had signed a disclaimer which carried a warning that motor sport could be dangerous and “in the absence of any negligence on the part of the company” she was aware she was participating entirely at her own risk.

Former racing driver and racetrack designer Stewart Cosgrave told Mr O’Brien that everyone who took part in any race first had to view the safety video and there were four marshals on duty on the night of Ms Wimpory’s accident.

He and race controller Denis Gaffney denied a marshal had or would step out in front of go-karts travelling at just over 20m/h (32km/h). Medical reports in the case were agreed by both parties.

Judgment is due today on a €38,000 personal injuries claim by Ms Wimpory for whiplash injuries.