Postman suffered ‘massive’ injuries following crossroads collision

SCENE The scene of the fatal accident at Keenagh Crossroads. Pic: Google

Anton McNulty

A POSTMAN who died following a two-car collision at Keenagh Crossroads in 2017 was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the collision.
Mattie Merrick (66) of Ballycorroon, Crossmolina died as a result of massive internal injuries to the chest and pelvic area following a collision between his post van and another car at the Keenagh Crossroads in north Mayo on March 1, 2017 at approximately 9.30am.
The inquest into his death which took place in Ballina last week heard that Mr Merrick pulled out of a minor road into the path of a car driven by Michael Lavelle who was travelling along the R312 in the direction of Castlebar.
The impact resulted in the two cars travelling 18 metres across the road. While Mr Lavelle’s car stopped at the edge of the road, Mr Merrick’s Volkswagen Caddy van dropped 1.3 metres into a drain, landing on its roof.
While Mr Merrick survived the initial impact, he was in a critical condition and was later pronounced dead at the scene. Consultant pathologist, Dr Tomas Nemeth, who performed the post mortem explained that his injuries were ‘massive, severe and multiple’ and he had no chance of surviving. He said if he was wearing a seatbelt he ‘may’ have survived.
The Keenagh Crossroads is a junction between the R312 and the L1106. Mr Merrick’s van was coming towards the junction from the Crossmolina direction which is governed by a yield sign.

Collision
In his evidence, Michael Lavelle from Glosh, Blacksod explained he was driving his partner, Marie Keane, to Castlebar. As he approached the crossroads, he noticed a car coming towards him and a van coming from the left. He said he presumed the van was going to stop and the collision happened so suddenly he did not have a chance to brake. He said the road was straight and he was driving at approximately 50 to 60 km per hour.
His partner, Marie Keane told the inquest that as they approached the crossroads, she remembered her partner scream and the airbags going off. She said she suffered injuries and spent two nights in hospital and the accident will ‘stay with us forever’.
Ann Marie Gaughan was going to Mass in Keenagh Church and was coming towards the crossroads from the Castlebar direction. She said she noticed the post van come from the right and said it slowed down as it approached the junction.
Ms Gaughan said she turned left at the junction and heard a loud bang. As she looked in her rear view mirror and saw the van rise in the air.
When questioned by Mr David O’Malley, solicitor for the Merrick family, Ms Gaughan said Mr Merrick seemed to stop at the junction but could not swear by it. Following the accident Mr Merrick had to be taken from the van by the fire service before medical treatment could be given. Garda Adrian McNulty said he spoke to the witnesses at the scene and explained that Mr Lavelle provided a breath specimen which proved negative for alcohol. A subsequent blood sample of Mr Merrick which was sent to the State lab also proved negative for alcohol.

Technical examination
Sergeant Gabriel McLoughlin, who investigated the scene explained that there was insufficient evidence to calculate what speed the cars were travelling. He said both vehicles were visible to each other from a distance of 200 metres.
Sgt McLoughlin explained that the Caddy van was ‘straddling’ the centre line at the point of impact with Mr Lavelle’s Mazda 6 car.
The inquest heard that a file was sent to the DPP who recommended no prosecution be taken against Mr Lavelle.
Mr O’Malley said that there were a lot of ‘unknowns’ in the investigation while Coroner for North Mayo, Dr Eleanor Fitzgerald added there were a lot of questions they were not able to answer into how exactly the accident happened.
A jury recorded a verdict of accidental death and it was recommended that the yield sign be replaced by a stop sign and that a barrier be installed at the edge of the road.  
Dr Fitzgerald expressed her sympathy to the family of Mr Merrick describing him as a well respected man whose loss was still felt by his family. Sergeant SeΡn McHale also expressed his sympathy to the Merrick family and thanked all the emergency services for their efforts to help Mr Merrick on the day. He also expressed his sympathies to Mr Lavelle and Ms Keane who had to live with the memories of the tragedy.