DRINK DRIVE KILLER 4 TIMES LIMIT...
Inquest told 100kmh dad lost control in double death crash
A MAN whose car veered on to the wrong side of the road, killing himself and another motorist, was four-and-a-half times over the drink-driving limit.
Kevin Mcclintock died instantly when his Honda Accord smashed head-on into youth worker Orla O’reilly’s Skoda Octavia.
The dad of three was due to become a father again, while Ms O’reilly was going to be married just a few months later.
A double inquest into the horrific crash was told that Mr Mcclintock, 32, and another man, John Mcbride, had been in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, and were returning to their homes in Derry in November 2015.
Ms O’reilly, 28, employed by Donegal Youth Services, was travelling to Letterkenny for meetings.
Garda evidence revealed the black Honda Accord car veered on to the wrong side of the N13 at Killyverry, Newtowncunningham – a notorious
Scene of crash on the N13 accident blackspot – and hit the Skoda. So severe was the impact that the Honda split in two, with the back half of the car found 60 metres down the road.
The Skoda, which suffered catastrophic damage, came to an immediate stop at the side of the road.
Both Mr Mcclintock, from Derry and Ms O’reilly, from Carnamoyle, Muff, died at the scene while Mr Mcbride was rushed to hospital.
Adrian Mclaughlin, who was returning from dropping off a relative at Belfast Airport, told how he suddenly saw a black car coming around a corner at him sideways.
He said he pulled to the side of the road and the car then collided head-on with another black vehicle travelling behind him.
Gda Damien Mulkearns, a Public Service Vehicle Inspector, said both cars had been in good serviceable condition before the accident.
Ms O’reilly was wearing a seatbelt but neither Mr Mcclintock or Mr Mcbride were.
Gda Gerard Mccauley, Garda Forensic Collision Operator, told the inquest the day was wet but the surface of the road, which had a 100kmh speed limit, was good. He said the Honda rounded an easy bend but the car lost control and veered into the wrong lane before hitting the Skoda.
Gda Mccauley said he could not Solicitor Fiona Baxter reads Orla family statement determine the exact speed of the Honda car as there were no skidmarks but said it was certainly traveling in excess of 100kmh.
He added that the damage to both cars was the worst he had seen in his career. He added: “It was catastrophic.” The family of Mr Mcclintock asked questions and said there was no proof it was Kevin who was driving the car. Coroner Dr Denis Mccauley said the inquest – held in Letterkenny – was not an exercise to apportion blame.
Pathologist Dr Gerry O’dowd said