Coroner urges drivers to exercise more vigilance after Achill tragedy
The tragedy occurred at Purteen Harbour on Achill Island.
A Mayo coroner has appealed to road users to be vigilant following the tragic death of a pensioner who accidentally drove off the road and into the sea on Achill Island.
Patrick O’Connor made his comments at Swinford Courthouse during an inquest into the death of Christiane Fries, aged 76, of Saula, Achill Island, who drowned after her car entered Purteen Harbour on December 31, 2022.
The inquest was that there were no witnesses to the tragedy. The alarm was raised by two walkers who noticed two distressed dogs and then observed part of the car bobbing above the waves.
Gda Conor O’Malley said he was notified at 11.30am and went to the scene. There were initial fears the vehicle might be swept out to sea, but it was successfully secured to the pier by Coast Guard and fire service personnel.
Gda O'Malley and the majority of the vehicle was still submerged after it had been secured. Local divers Joe Carey and David Johnston attended the scene and confirmed there was a person inside the vehicle.
The remains of the deceased woman were then removed and brought to the surface. A post-mortem confirmed she died from asphyxia due to drowning.
Gda O’Malley said Ms Fries' mobile telephone was not in the car but it was later found at her home. There was no evidence of a medical emergency, a fault with the vehicle and no tyre marks on the pier.
The English native, who moved to Achill Island several years ago, had traces of alcohol in her system but was below the legal limit.
Gda O'Malley said it was unclear why Ms Fries' car entered the water.
Returning a verdict of accidental death, Mr O'Connor said there was no evidence that Ms Fries intentionally drove into the water.
In appealing to motorists to be more vigilant, Mr O’Connor noted that the increasing number of deaths on the country's roads was becoming a genuine cause for concern.
“Already this year there have been more than a dozen deaths in this country," the coroner noted. “I do hope that people take into account the dangers that are on the roads, the danger of driving a car and the necessity of educating yourself on how to deal with driving.”
