Car involved in fatal Mayo road collision looked like it 'was sawn in half'

A WITNESS to a fatal road traffic collision which occurred on the N17 near Claremorris described how a Toyota Yaris involved in the crash looked like it 'was sawn in half'.

The inquest into the death of Andrea Gornowicz (57), Old Park House, Castlemacgarrett, Claremorris heard how she was rear-ended by a car when turning right off the N17 and pushed into the path of an oncoming van.

The German native, who had lived in Claremorris for 30 years, suffered multiple injuries following the collision and died almost instantly.

The collision took place at the junction for Castlemacgarret on the N17 outside Claremorris at around 11.50am on May 16, 2024.

The inquest heard that Ms Gornowicz’s Toyota Yaris car was stationary at the junction as it waited to turn right when it was rear-ended by a car driven by Martin Cullinan. The impact of the collision resulted in the Yaris veering onto the opposite lane and it was then hit from behind by a Renault Traffic van and towing a trailer

Derek Lynn, who was travelling behind Mr Cullinan’s Hyundai Matrix car told gardaí that he could see the Yaris indicating to turn right and the brake lights were on. He said he started to slow down but the car in front of him failed to do so and he did not see the brake lights on it before it smashed into the back of the Yaris.

“I noticed the front half of the Yaris looked like it was sawn in life,” Mr Lynn told gardaí following the collision.

Peter Collins, who was travelling towards Claremorris in the Renault van, said he observed the Yaris ahead of him indicating to turn right when it was rear-ended. He said the car flipped around into his lane and he did not have time to stop to avoid the collision. He said he was driving at 70-80 km per hour at the time of the collision and described the conditions as dry and sunny.

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‘Death trap’

WHEN questioned by Dr Eleanor Fitzgerald, Coroner for Mayo, Mr Collins described the location of where the collision occurred as a ‘death trap’ as it is a busy road and there was no filter lane for vehicles turning right to enter and there had been numerous accidents along that stretch of road.

The inquest heard that members of the public came to Ms Gornowicz’s assistance at the scene but she was pronounced dead at 1.06pm.

A post mortem report showed that Ms Gornowicz suffered multiple injuries to her left side including fractures to her sternum and all her ribs. The cause of death was due to haemorrhagic shock due to thoracic aorta injury due to traumatic chest injuries.

Dr Fitzgerald commented that she had massive haemorrhaging following the rupture of her thoracic aorta which meant her death would have been instant.

Court presenter, Sergeant Noel Crinnegan explained that Mr Cullinan (70) was convicted of careless driving causing the death of Ms Gornowicz and was sentenced last year.

Mr Cullinan from Kilmicalla, Irishtown had been in Claremorris earlier that morning for a bite to eat and was on his way back to his home when the collision occured. He claimed he did not see any indicator or brake light but took full responsibility for the collision.

Dr Fitzgerald recorded a verdict of accidental death and said the death of Ms Gornowicz could have been avoided if due caution was taken by Mr Cullinan. She recommended that a filter lane be installed at that junction if possible or that Mayo County Council look at closing junctions to minor roads which she said are causing many collisions.

She extended her sympathies to the family and friends of Ms Gornowicz on their tragic loss while Sgt Crinnegan also asked drivers to be aware of the dangers of momentarily lapses in concentration.