Father died in crash on way home after meeting his baby

A father-of-two died following a road crash as he made his way home from hospital after meeting his newborn baby.

Slawomir Gostomski, 34, originally from Poland but living at Ashwood Glade, Westport, Co Mayo, was returning home from Mayo General Hospital following the birth of his first daughter when he crashed on April 5, 2014.

The accident happened on the N5 at the Halfway House pub, Islandeady, around 8km from Castlebar at 7.30pm.

Mr Gostomski’s red Mercedes collided with a BMW as it turned right towards the Halfway House on a long straight stretch of road between Castlebar and Westport.

Driver of the BMW, Eddie Jennings, said he indicated and checked his mirrors before taking the turn.

“I had just started moving over the centre line when I was hit,” he said. “Once he hit me it was pure blank,” he said.

Witness Ciaran Kane was travelling behind the BMW. “I slowed down as it slowed down when the indicator came on. I was planning to undertake him,” he said.

Mr Kane said he planned to pass to the left of the BMW and continue forward towards Westport. He said he did not see the red Mercedes until the moment of impact. He said the red car overtook him and collided with the black BMW. People inside the pub heard “a bang that sounded like an explosion” and ran outside.

Garda James O’Brien, of Castlebar Garda Station, told the court a red Mercedes had hit the wall of the pub and the driver was badly injured.

Mr Gostomski was rushed to Mayo General Hospital and later transferred to Beaumont Hospital. He died on April 12. The cause of death was a severe head injury as a result of the collision. The jury at Dublin Coroner’s Court returned a verdict of misadventure.