Inquest hears car was being driven very fast before fatal M3 crash

An inquest in Navan into the death of a 37-year-old man was told that his Suzuki Swift vehicle was in collision with a Mercedes car travelling in the same direction.

The inquest, conducted at Navan Courthouse by Meath Coroner Nathaniel Lacy, enquired into the death of Keith O’Hanlon, Moyview, Kildalkey who died in a traffic accident on the M3 Motorway shortly before 5pm on 24th May last year.

Sergeant Barry McCann told the inquest that when he arrived at the scene of the accident with gardai David Maughan and Brendan Wright. The death of Mr O’Hanlon had already been pronounced. He said that the Suzuki vehicle was “in a bad state” and resting beside a concrete barrier in the middle of the motorway. He also saw a black Mercedes parked on the hard shoulder further down the road.

The sergeant said that the Suzuki appeared to have struck the rear of the Mercedes. It appeared the Suzuki lost control and ended on its side. He said a file had been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions who decided there should be no prosecution.

A witness to the accident Arthur Lewis told the inquest he was travelling between Navan and Dunshaughlin towards Dublin. In the corner of his eye he had seen a car coming very close to him in the outside lane. It was being driven very fast and the car was not steady on the road, he said. He saw it drifting towards the right and towards the concrete barrier He then saw the Suzuki drifting towards the back of the Mercedes. The Suzuki hit the back of the Mercedes. The brake lights of the Suzuki had never come on.

The Suzuki hit the bank and rolled three times on the road.

A deposition of accident investigator Garda Cliff Harding was read to the inquest. He said that it was unclear why the driver of the Suzuki was driving in both lanes of the motorway or why he failed to react to the fact that the Mercedes was driving slower than his vehicle.

Consultant pathologist Dr Muna Sabah gave evidence that death was due to multiple fractures of the skull and laceration of the brain.

Toxicology tests revealed that there was no alcohol in the deceased’s system. She said there was evidence of sedatives, morphine within therapeutic levels.

The coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence and he and Inspector Joseph Finnegan extended condolences to the family of the deceased.