Driver's brain fog from covid-19 linked to Cork crash that claimed lives of elderly couple

Brain fog and general malaise associated with covid-19 was likely a significant factor in the crash, State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster said.

John Patrick Allen and Berna Allen were killed in a crash outside Ringaskiddy

A motorist's covid 19 symptoms may have contributed to a horror multi-car pile-up near Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, in which a couple in their 80s died.

A cloud of smoke and deadly silence, punctured by screams for help, met witnesses who tried to help John Patrick (Pat) Allen, 83, his wife Bernadette Allen, 82, and another injured motorist on August 30, 2022, just after 11am.

Brain fog and general malaise associated with covid-19 was likely a significant factor in the crash which caused their deaths, State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster said.

The collision occurred outside Ringaskiddy on the busy N28 near the Shannon Park roundabout.

It had been the couple’s first time out of their home since contracting covid-19, having stayed in isolation for the recommended period, their daughter told Midleton Coroner’s Court.

The couple had lived at nearby 16 Glenwood, Carrigaline, and were going to Ringaskiddy for a walk.

Ernestas Bisirskas, a professional truck driver, was driving a lorry carrying cars that morning when he saw the Allen’s Mazda coming against him and start to drift across into his lane.

“I hit the brakes. Suddenly there was a big bang," he said.

Mr Bisirska’ next memory was lying in his truck’s cab which had toppled over onto its side.

Taxi driver Michael Chucks was driving behind the Allen’s and captured the crash on his vehicle’s dash cam.

The Allen’s Mazda was not moving too quickly – about 70k in a 100k zone – he said.

The scene of the crash on the Ringaskiddy N28 Road. Picture: Howard Crowdy

The Allen’s car started drifting into the path of the oncoming lorry.

“I braked suddenly. I saw the car and lorry collide. The Mazda spun back and hit my car, then it hit the ditch.” 

Oil from the Mazda flew in his open window and stained his shirt and debris hit his car.

“A lady was standing by the Mazda calling for help. I asked her if everyone was ok and she said she thought they may be dead.” 

Joanne O’Sullivan was driving from Ringaskiddy when she rounded a slight bend in the road and came upon “a cloud of dust in front of me.” 

“There was pure silence,” she said.

She saw an elderly male deceased in one car and an elderly lady slumped near the footwell next to him.

“I sat with her, she told me her name was Berna. I told her help was coming and I started praying.” 

Michael O’Connell was driving behind the taxi. He saw the Mazda veer straight in front of the lorry.

The Allen’s car was “sent spinning around hard” when it hit the lorry. It then hit the taxi before hitting the ditch.

He pulled in to help and saw Mr Allen slumped lifeless in the car. A woman was trying to help Mrs Allen.

A man was screaming ‘get me out’ from a blue car that had hit the ditch behind them.

Coroner for South Cork, Frank O’Connell, empathised with the family and said that the crash had been a “horrendous occurrence.” 

“The burning question in this case is why did the car drift across the road,” Mr O’Connell said.

State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster said that covid-19 was likely a contributory factor in the crash.

Dr Bolster found in her autopsy on Mr Allen on August 31, 2022, in City Morgue, Cork, no alcohol or drugs in his blood.

He had suffered “extremely severe crush injuries” and multiple fractures to his skull.

He tested positive for Covid-19 when swabbed in the mortuary.

“There were all sorts of brain symptoms with it […] it affected all organs of the body.

“Covid-19 – that’s the real item of interest here. He was positive for covid-19 and may have been feeling unwell,” Dr Bolster said.

His cause of death was polytrauma to the head, thorax and abdomen due to a road traffic collision, she said.

“He wouldn’t have suffered and would have died instantly,” she said.

Bernadette Allen’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to the thorax and abdomen caused by a road traffic accident.

“She bled out,” Dr Bolster said. 

“Her consciousness would have dropped and she would not have been suffering.” 

Mr O’Connell ruled that the couple’s deaths were accidental.

“Even though we don’t know for sure all the reasons why Mr Allen lost control of his car, we can say as a matter of probability that it was related to covid.

“He did not have a stroke or heart attack, there would be physical manifestations of that at autopsy.

“The only rational conclusion to make here is that Mr Allen had a turn very likely associated with a Covid infection and tiredness,” he said.

His verdict was that Mr Allen died of multiple injuries to his head, thorax and abdomen as a result of a road traffic accident.

And Mrs Allen died as a result of blunt force trauma to her thorax and abdomen due to a road traffic accident.