Inquest is told of 'fireball' after fatal crash on icy road in Mayo
Dr Eleanor Fitzgerald returned a verdict of accidental death.
A badly-injured woman crawled away from a ‘fireball’ after another car skidded into her vehicle on a lethally icy road in South Mayo, an inquest has been told.
Ciara Hussey, originally from Killasser, Swinford, was living in Hollymount and working in Tuam when a Toyota Corolla car driven by Terence Killeen (38), Redhill, Tulrahan, Claremorris crashed into her Opel Astra on the R311 at Taugheen, Claremorris on January 5, 2024.
Mr Killeen was killed instantly in the impact. His remains could only be positively identified by the usage of DNA technology.
Ms Hussey, who is now back living in Killasser and is being cared for by her family, provided evidence via video link to an inquest conducted in Ballina Courthouse by Mayo coroner Dr Eleanor Fitzgerald.
“I was going to work in Tuam early on the morning of January 5," she recounted in a statement to gardaí which was read to the inquest. “I noticed lights coming towards me on my side of the road. Another car collided with me head on.
“I noticed flames immediately engulfing the other car.
“I knew that I was injured. I crawled from the front seat of my car to the back seat. The other car engulfed in flames.
“I got out through the back seat and crawled on the ground away from the car.”
Ms Hussey said she was unable to summon help as her phone was still in the car but after a few minutes a lady driver appeared and provided her shelter in her car.
When gardaí, fire brigade and paramedics arrived, Ms Hussey was put in the back of an ambulance before being transferred to hospital where she was kept for seven days.
Her injuries included a broken fibula and tibia, a dislocated ankle amongst other injuries.
Ms Hussey said to date she has had three surgeries on her right leg and may require further surgery going forward.
Responding to questions from the coroner, she said there was no way she could avoid the collision. Her car had gone on fire as well as the other vehicle.
Kevin Gibbons, who lives beside the crash scene, said in a statement to gardaí that he jumped out of bed after hearing “an unmerciful smash”.
“I then heard a cry for help, a haunting sound."
Mr Gibbons said when he ran outside he could see flames. The road was extremely icy. He told ambulance personnel he believed there was somebody in the second car.
He added that the woman at the scene was crying with pain and had told him the other car had come across the road and hit her car head on.
The two cars involved were quickly and completely engulfed in flames, the witness stated.
Gda Sgt Gabriel McLoughlin, PSV Inspector for Mayo, said there was no evidence that either vehicle was defective. He described road conditions at the time, as described by various witnesses, as very slippery with black ice on a right-hand bend.
Asked about the cause of the fire which first engulfed Mr Killeen’s car, Gda Sgt McLoughlin said he believed it was caused by petrol pouring onto the car’s catalytic convertor.
Before returning a verdict of accidental death, Dr Fitzgerald noted that both vehicles were engulfed when the fire ignited and it was fortunate that Ms Hussey did not lose her life as well.
Describing the accident as “horrifying”, the coroner said the public should be aware that any collisions pose risks and safety checks on vehicles are essential.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Terence Killeen's sister, Maria, described the loss of her brother as a nightmare for her family.
“The moment the guards brought us the terrible news will stay forever imprinted on our minds," she stated.
Maria described her brother as a brilliant engineer with a broad range of interests.
She expressed gratitude to members of An Garda Súochána, neighbours for their support and all who assisted at the scene.
Expressing sympathy with the family, Gda Sean McHale said there had been a full and thorough garda investigation into the circumstances of the collision. He thanked gardaí in Claremorris and the fire service who attended and assisted at the scene.
- Published as part of the Courts Reporting Scheme.
