Momentary lapses in concentration led to four-car collision

A FOUR-VEHICLE road traffic accident which occurred in heavy rain near the Whitford roundabout on the N25 was reviewed at the District Court in Wexford.

The result was careless driving convictions for Ford Transit van driver Brian O’Neill (26), The Coolin, St Aidan’s Ferns, and Ford Focus driver Margaret Murray (62) of Redmondstown, Rathaspeck.

The court heard from Rita Walsh, Ballinaslaney, Oylegate, who recalled how she was driving home in rush hour on the evening of April 26 last year.

She told how she stopped her Peugeot 308 behind the Fuse Technology van driven by Sean D’Arcy. She remained stationary until she was struck from behind by Mr D’Arcy’s work colleague O’Neill in a second Fuse Technology van. The result was that the Peugeot was shunted into the first van. A few seconds later, a second impact occurred when Ms Murray collided with the rear of the second Ford Transit.

This version of events was confirmed by Ms Walsh’s son, Leo Walsh. The Peugeot was a write-off in the accident and the Focus also had to be towed away from the scene.

The court was told that official rain and wind warnings had been issued for that day and Garda Padraig Quinlivan recalled that he did not take formal statements at the roadside from those involved as the weather was so bad.

Judge Brian O’Shea did not accept O’Neill’s insistence that he did not collide with the rear of the Walshs’s car as he made his way towards Ferns from a job in Rosslare until pushed by the Focus.

The court also did not accept that the poor driving conditions were an excuse for what happened.

The judge concluded instead that momentary lapses in concentration meant the two accused were not paying due care.

He imposed the careless driving convictions, with fines of €500.