Passenger was not wearing seatbelt at time of fatal collision

A THIRTY-four-year-old man who died after the car in which he was travelling was involved in a head-on collision was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of impact.

David Henning of The Spinney, Derreenascobe, Killawalla, Westport died on December 27, 2021 shortly after the car in which he was a front seat passenger was involved in a head-on collision at Breaffy, Castlebar.

The inquest into the death of Mr Henning heard that the car in which he was travelling was being driven by his father Alan Henning and a garda investigation found that neither had been wearing seat belts.

Mr Henning died at the scene and a post mortem found that he died as a result of multiple injuries including fracture of the cervical spine, lacerated liver, ruptured diaphragm and haemorrhage sustained in a road traffic accident.

The inquest in Swinford Courthouse heard that the collision between the two cars occurred at approximately 5.38pm and it occurred close to the entrance of the Breaffy House Hotel on the N60.

Mr Alan Henning, who was driving a Toyota Avensis, was travelling towards Castlebar and the driver of the other vehicle, Krysztof Streciwilk was in a Seat Leon and coming from Castlebar.

Both men told gardaí that they were met with a car coming towards their side of the road and they had to take evasive action to try to avoid a collision but were unable.

Alan Henning, who was not able to attend the inquest due to ill-health, told Gardaí that a car came swinging out to overtake and a car went on his side of the road. He said the cars hit each other and went into a spin.

Mr Streciwilk said he noticed a car veering on his side of the road and they both tried to take evasive action but were unable to avoid the collision.

Sergeant Patrick McElroy, a forensic collision investigator described the collision as an off centre angled head-on collision and found that the impact was on the eastbound lane, which was Mr Streciwilk's side of the road. He said there were no independent witnesses to support his claim that another car had attempted an overtaking manoeuvre.

In his report he stated the 'root cause of the collision' was the actions of Mr Henning and both occupants of the Toyota were not wearing seatbelts.

Mr Henning sustained broken ribs and a broken arm in the collision but Mr Streciwilk and his two passengers were not seriously injured. His son David Henning was pronounced dead at the scene by Dr Jason Horan at 6.06pm.

Mr Patrick O'Connor, Coroner for the District of Mayo recorded a verdict of accidental death and expressed sympathy to the family of Mr Henning on their tragic loss.