Father dies after visiting his new baby
A FATHER of two on his way home from hospital after the birth of his daughter was involved in a road accident and later died, an inquest was told.
A red Mercedes driven by Slawomir Gostomski, 34, collided with a black BMW on April 5, 2014, Dublin Coroner’s Court heard. He died in hospital a week later.
The accident happened on the N5 in Co. Mayo at the Halfway House pub, Islandeady, around eight kilometres from Castlebar.
Mr Gostomski’s Mercedes was overtaking when it collided with a BMW turning right towards the Halfway House on a long straight stretch of road between Castlebar and Westport.
BMW driver Eddie Jennings said he indicated and checked his mirrors before taking the turn. ‘I had just started moving over the centre line when I was hit,’ he said. ‘Once he hit me it was pure blank.’
Witness Ciarán Kane was travelling behind the BMW. He said: ‘I slowed down as it [the BMW] slowed down when the indicator came on. I was planning to undertake him.’
Mr Kane said he planned to pass to the left of the BMW and continue forward towards Westport.
He said he did not see the Mercedes until the moment of impact. He said the car overtook him and collided with the BMW.
Those in the pub heard ‘ a bang that sounded like an explosion’ and ran outside.
Garda James O’Brien of Castlebar Garda station told the court a Mercedes had hit the wall of the pub and the driver was badly injured.
Mr Gostomski was taken to Mayo General Hospital and later transferred to Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital where scans confirmed he had suffered severe head injuries. Mr Gostomski died seven days later. The cause of death was a severe head injury as a result of a collision.
The jury returned a verdict of misadventure and recommended the Mayo county manager and National Roads Authority consider installing appropriate signage on both sides of the road leading up to the Halfway House pub.
Polish national Mr Gostomski, of Westport, Co. Mayo, had lived in Ireland for a decade before his death. A day before the accident, his mother had arrived from Poland to help the family with their new arrival.