Coroner seeks action to improve bridge at notorious blackspot

A coroner has called for improvements to a dangerous bridge where a father of one was killed.

Alvydas Kerbelis, aged 43, of Ballybane, Brickens, Claremorris died on February 16, 2023, following a single-vehicle crash at Ballygowan, Claremorris.

The married tyre mechanic suffered a catastrophic head injury after his Volkswagen Caddy van collided with a sign under the Ballygowan bridge on the N60.

The deceased’s wife Lina Kerbeliene said her husband came home at about 11pm on the evening in question and appeared to be drunk. He asked her to drive him into Claremorris town to pick up some belongings from his vehicle. She described him as being angry and quite aggressive when they reached the town and he insisted on driving home alone.

Witness Asad Mahmood of Sherwood Avenue, Ballyhaunis, said he had been travelling from Claremorris to Ballyhaunis when he saw a vehicle with a warning light on at the railway bridge outside Claremorris.

“It had hit a sign board and was on my right-hand side,” he added.

Mr Mahood initially thought it was an earlier accident because there was nobody around and then he spotted a hand dangling out the passenger side of the van.

He went to check on the occupant and called out ‘Hello’ but got no answer. He then noticed that the deceased had suffered a catastrophic head injury. While he was dialling 999, Ms Kerbeliene arrived on the scene and parked her car beside the van. She immediately identified the driver as her husband and started crying. Mr Mahmood recognised Ms Kerbeliene and realised he had previously worked with her and Mr Kerbelis at the Western Brand chicken factory.

Sgt John Horkan said he was alerted to a fatal single-car collision shortly after 12.35am. Upon arrival at the scene, he observed blood on a bridge wall and found the victim lying down across the front seats of the vehicle.

Mr Kerbelis was formally pronounced dead at 2.32am and consultant pathologist Dr Fedal Benani said the medical cause of death was a traumatic head injury.

Sgt Gabriel McLoughlin, public service vehicle inspector for Mayo, who carried out an inspection on the Volkswagen Caddy van, said he was satisfied that Mr Kerbelis had not been wearing a seat belt. There was significant damage to the front of the vehicle, the rear door on the passenger side and the front windscreen. A blood sample revealed a very high level of alcohol in the deceased's system.

Coroner Patrick O’Connor recorded a verdict of misadventure and said the accident had occurred at a bridge that is located on a notoriously dangerous bend. 

“It is up to Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Irish Rail to address it. There have been so many incidents and now a death in the last year.” 
Mr O'Connor said the two agencies needed to work with Mayo Co Council to improve safety and he praised the Gardaí and the emergency services for dealing so expertly with an ‘extremely difficult’ situation.