Accidental death recorded in death of pensioner involved in N17 collision

A VERDICT of accidental death was recorded into the death of a Mayo woman who was killed after the car in which she was a passenger was rear-ended on the N17.

Kathleen Forkan (84) late of Treenkeel, Kiltimagh died in Mayo University Hospital on October 4, 2022 as a result of injuries sustained in a road traffic collision ten days previously on the N17 at Cloonturk, Kilkelly.

The inquest into the death of Mrs Forkin which took place in Ballina Courthouse heard that she was a front seat passenger in a car driven by her daughter which was rear ended as they prepared to turn right onto the Kiltimagh road.

Dr Eleanor Fitzgerald, Coroner for Mayo was informed that Mrs Forkan was brought to Mayo University Hospital where she was treated for a head injury with a slight bleed to the brain. She was confined to the bed while in hospital and died on October 4 after sustaining a clot brought on due to her immobility.

Dympna Murphy, a daughter of Mrs Forkan explained to the inquest that on September 24, 2022, she and her mother had been returning to her home in Kiltimagh after visiting a relative in Ave Maria Nursing Home in Tooreen.

She said it was a sunny day and at approximately 4.30pm she indicated to turn right on the N17 and waited to take the R322 road to Kiltimagh.

She recalled two vehicles passing her on her inside as she was just about to turn right when she was hit from behind and her Honda Jazz car spun around a couple of times.

Collision

The inquest heard that she was struck by a Daihatsu Terios car driven by Mohammed Sa Alqarra who was travelling from Letterkenny towards Galway. This car had five occupants including a young baby and the vehicle ended up on its side.

Ms Murphy said her mother was shaking but able to talk and recalled people coming to the car to give assistance. She said she waited in the car until they were taken by ambulance to hospital.

When questioned by Dr Fitzgerald, Ms Murphy said the N17 was very busy that day and there was no filter lane at the location for drivers to enter to turn right onto the R322.

The junction for the R322 Kiltimagh Road along the N17 near Kilkelly where the collision occurred

Joe Stenson explained he was travelling from Tubbercurry towards Corfin when he passed Ms Murphy’s car on the inside. He said he looked in his mirror and noticed a grey car going into the back of it.

Mr Stenson said he pulled on and went to the grey car which was on its side and was able to get everyone out of the car.

He then went to Ms Murphy’s car and recalled speaking to an elderly passenger and held her hand. Mr Stenson said that Ms Murphy’s car was indicating when he noticed it stationary from about 200 yards.

The inquest heard that Mr Stenson had dashcam footage from the front and rear of his car which showed the collision.

A Garda investigation into the fatal collision which took place after Mrs Forkan died showed that Ms Murphy’s vehicle was clearly visible from 150 metres but Mr Alqarra’s vision would have been restricted as there was a vehicle between his car and Ms Murphy’s.

Sergeant Gabriel McLoughlin, PSV inspector who inspected both cars said they were both in roadworthy condition at the time of the accident. He said the speed limit at the location was 100km per hour and while he was not able to determine the speed of Mr Alqarra’s car, the dash cam footage showed that the traffic was travelling at 92 to 96km per hour prior to the collision.

Conviction

Garda Nicola Dolan said she arrested Mr Alqarra and when questioned he said he tried to brake to avoid the collision but was unable to do so. He said he was shocked by what happened and denied driving in a careless or dangerous way.

Mr Alqarra, a Palestinian national living in Drogheda, Co Louth, later pleaded guilty to careless driving and received a ten-month suspended prison sentence and a two year driving ban.

Dr Fadel Bennani, Consultant Pathologist who performed the post mortem said that there were no fractures but there was a haemorrhage in the brain as a result of the collision. He added that Mrs Forkin had a clot in her lung and the cause of death was due to a massive pulmonary thromboembolism due to deep vein thrombosis with the subdural haematoma sustained in the road traffic accident a major contributing factor.

Dr Bennani explained to Dr Fitzgerald that deep vein thrombosis is due to immobility and Mrs Forkan was confined to bed at all times while in hospital.

Dr Fitzgerald recorded a verdict of accidental death and commented that the death of Mrs Forkan was one of a number to take place in recent years along the N17.

She noted that there was no filter lane for the turn off for the R322 and recommended that a filter lane should be incorporated at this location to save lives and prevent collisions from happening again.

Dr Fitzgerald and court presenter, Sergeant Seán McHale also commended all the emergency services and people who gave assistance at the scene to the people involved in the collision.