Woman killed in crash was ‘most likely person driving’

A woman who died when a van skidded on ice was most likely the person driving, an inquest established yesterday.

Geraldine Murphy, aged 27, from Donoughmore, Co Cork, died early on January 28, 2013, after her boyfriend’s van skidded on ice in Donoughmore, struck a sign, spun, and flipped.

Her boyfriend, Don Casey, also from Donoghmore, escaped with minor injuries.

Mr Casey told Cork City Coroner’s Court that Ms Murphy, who had driven the van on several occasions before, was driving at the time of the accident.

In a bid to establish who was at the wheel, gardaí sent the van’s airbag and a blood-stained bar and tripod found in the van’s cab, to the State Forensics Lab for analysis.

However, Stephen Clifford, a DNA and blood pattern analysis expert, said he could not establish who was driving. A jury returned a verdict of death due to misadventure.

The inquest heard that Ms Murphy and Mr Casey left Josie’s Bar in Donoughmore together just before 12.30am on January 28 and got into his Ford Transit.

CCTV footage from a nearby church could not identify who was in the driver’s seat.

Roads were wet and icy and the van went out of control on the R619 near Pat Barry’s Pub, struck a road-sign, spun 180 degrees and flipped on to the driver’s side. Neither occupant was wearing a seat belt.

“It is like a washing machine,” said forensic collision investigator Garda Mark O’Connor. “If you’re not wearing a seat belt, you could literally end up anywhere.”

People in the nearby bar who rushed to help found Mr Casey standing inside the van, with Ms Murphy lying on the driver-side window. She was rushed to Cork University Hospital but was pronounced dead.

Garda Ray Griffin, who arrived at the crash scene, said there was a smell of alcohol from Mr Casey, who was unsteady on his feet. He said Mr Casey was emotional, visibly upset and distraught, and seemed more concerned with Ms Murphy than for himself.

Garda Griffin said that, when he directed Mr Casey to disclose who was driving, he said Ms Murphy was.

An autopsy found 209mg/cent of alcohol in her blood stream and established the cause of death was severe head injuries.

Assistant state pathologist Margot Bolster said it was not possible from an examination of Ms Murphy’s injuries to establish whether she was driving or was in the passenger seat, and said it is very dangerous to over-interpret injuries sustained in a road traffic accident.

City coroner Myra Cullinane said she hoped any question Ms Murphy’s family had had been addressed.

“Nothing will bring her back to you, but I hope you can move on to the next phase of grieving,” she said.