Witness tells inquest of ‘horrific’ crash scene

Gruesome details of a horrific car crash which claimed the lives of two young men as they sped through a large Limerick housing estate were recalled yesterday.

Witness tells inquest of ‘horrific’ crash scene

Andrew Mason, aged 23, of Ballyclough Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, and Michael Madigan, aged 28, of Liosdara, Broadford, Co Limerick were travelling in a Toyota Corolla which went out of control, crossing the road before hitting an oncoming van.

An inquest at Limerick Coroner’s Court found both men died from multiple injuries as a result of the impact at Hyde Road, Ballinacurra Weston on the evening of March 15 last.

A garda investigation found the car was travelling at speed and neither occupant was wearing a seat belt.

The car careered onto the wrong side of the road at speed, hitting the oncoming van. Driving conditions at the time of the accident were good.

Blood tests showed the car’s driver, Mr Mason, had no alcohol taken.

Shane McSweeney, of Willow Grove, Old Cratloe Road, Limerick recalled travelling in his van at Hyde Road at around 7.35pm.

His young daughter, Lucy accompanied him.

He saw a car approach from the opposite directon.

After a loud screech, the approaching car lost control and hurtled across the road into the path of his van.

Mr McSweeney said: “I put my hand across my young daughter to protect her. There was no time to prevent an impact. I swerved hard and heard the screams of my child.

“It was hard to believe the force and speed at which the other car drove at me. I grabbed my child and I found the door jammed. I forced it and ran with my child and people at the scene took her.

“I collapsed with pain. My child was asking for her puppy who was in the van.”

Mr McSweeney went over to where the car had ended up.

“I can’t describe how horrific the scene was. I thought my daughter would die. It was a horrific experience.

“I went to the other car and saw two men, one in the driver seat and the other in the passenger seat.

“They were face down on the dashboard with blood everywhere. It was a sickening sight.

“The two bodies were motionless and I thought both were dead. Ambulance people tried to resuscitate the passenger and somebody called out the driver was still alive and moving. He was still alive and they tried to revive him.

“The driver was dragged out of the car and wheeled past me and was obviously in a bad state. I can’t describe how horrific the scene was.”

Following medical evidence, the jury returned a verdict that Mr Mason and Mr Madigan both died from multiple injuries having been involved in a road traffic accident.

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