Inquest into multiple pileup that killed man

51- YEAR- OLD MARTIN MONGAN WAS TRAVELLING IN THIRD CAR THAT COLLIDED WITH LORRY IN GLENCAR

A man driving towards Manorhamilton died from extensive injuries he sustained when his car was involved in a multiple pileup on the N16 after colliding with a lorry. The inquest into the death of Martin Mongan, 51, of Roche’s Terrace, Ballina, took place at Sligo Courthouse yesterday. Mr Mongan was the driver of a third car, a Toyota Avensis, which was in collision with a lorry at Diffreen, Glencar.

Coroner Eamon MacGowan heard that Mr Mongan, who was a community councillor with the travelling community, was pronounced dead at Sligo University Hospital on October 30th 2014.

The inquest heard gardaí in Manorhamilton and Sligo carried out an extensive investigation into the crash, interviewing 60 witnesses.

The accident occurred close to 10am at Diffreen, Glencar, Co

Leitrim on October 30th 2014. Mr Mongan was in collision with a white Mitsubishi lorry being driven by Gary Flaherty, who was making deliveries in the area for a pre- packed food company.

In his deposition, Mr Flaherty said he was travelling back to Sligo after making a delivery in Manorhamilton. He was driving along when a gold car approaching from the opposite direction swerved to the left. He tried to keep in as far as possible on the verge but the car hit the truck’s back wheel and he lost control. He recalled the lorry hitting another car and the next thing he remembered was being released from his seat belt. He was dazed.

He said he knew there was a van behind him but didn’t notice that it was attempting to overtake.

It all happened very quickly after the car swerved in front of him.

The car was being driven by Nina Perepeccinna Petrosiene, a Lithuanian national living in Sligo.

Her deposition said she was going to Enniskillen for the day with her friend, who was driving behind, and their children.

She said she came to a straight stretch and saw a lorry getting closer. She claimed a dark coloured van behind it came onto her side and she though it was going to hit her.

“There was nowhere to go and I hit the brakes. I tried to keep my hands on the steering wheel,” she added.

“All the cars were thrown everywhere.” Her friend Gajane Danijelianc, who was driving in the next car, also collided with the lorry. She said she saw Nina’s car break before colliding with the lorry.

A deposition from the driver of the van, Lee Mitchell, said he was driving behind a lorry and had passed Diffreen school.

The lorry was travelling normally and suddenly it swerved to the left into the margin and toppled over on its side.

It crashed into two cars before coming up against a third car, the driver of which was unconscious.

He checked the lorry driver who told him he was okay.

He was hanging by the seatbelt and said there was nothing he could do as the car came onto his side.

He said he was driving behind the lorry and didn’t move out onto the right lane.

A case of dangerous driving causing death against Perepeccinna Petrosiene was later dismissed at Carrick- on- Shannon Circuit Court.

The jury after deliberations returned a verdict death was due to injuries received as a result of a road traffic accident.

The coroner expressed his sympathies to the family of Mr Mongan, who were present at the inquest.

“His death is clearly a loss. He was a community councillor with the travelling community and doing good work. It’s very sad for his family and friends.”

He also thanked gardaí for carrying out an exhaustive examination and the witnesses. The jury also expressed sympathy to Mr Mongan’s family, as did Sergeant Philip Maree on behalf of An Garda Síochána.