Aquaplaning in heavy road flood major factor in accident

An inquest into the death in a road accident of a 24-year-old Cavan man in Co Meath last year has been told that the “poor” condition of tyres on his car may not have been a factor in the cause of the accident because his vehicle had probably aquaplaned as a result of heavy road flooding. Neither was the presence of a very small amount of cocaine in his system a cause of the accident, it was found.

The inquest into the death of Glen Smith (24), (right), of Dungimmon, Mountnugent, Co Cavan on 4th February 2025 was conducted by Coroner for Co Meath Nathaniel Lacy at Trim Courthouse.

Solicitor Peter Higgins of Regan McEntee solicitors attended the inquest on behalf of the family.

Forensic collision investigator Garda Mark Mahon told the inquest that he had conducted an investigation at the scene of the accident and prepared a report. He said the collision occurred on the R154 in the townland of Boolies in Meath. The road was in good condition although wet at the time of the accident. There was some flooding on the road and the area was dark with no street lighting. The car was travelling in the Kells direction at an unknown speed. There was no evidence of pre-impact braking.

The Garda said that the tread depth of the tyres on the car was below the minimum depth. The car travelled onto the Oldcastle-bound carriageway. The offside tyre entered the flooded area of the carriageway and the vehicle rotated clockwise, entering the soft shoulder of the road and colliding with a wall.

The inquest was told that the car went on fire following the collision.

In reply to Mr Higgins the Garda said that there was flooding on both sides of the road. He agreed that a car coming from Oldcastle “could go anywhere” if it hit that flood.

Referring to the depth of tread on the tyres Mr Higgins said that once the car hit the flood and started aquaplaning the depth of tyres would not be as big a factor as it would on a dry road. The Garda agreed with that.

A deposition by Garda Declan Clarke who compiled a public service vehicle report was read into the inquest. In it he said that weather conditions at the time of the collision were “poor” with excessive water on the road. Three tyres on the vehicle were in poor condition. “The vehicle appeared to have lost control, possibly aquaplaning and veered in an offside direction and colliding side-on with a boundary wall”.

The rear seats of the vehicle were folded down and the vehicle contained a number of construction tools. The vehicle had gone on fire and the fuel tank ignited. He noted that the vehicle was not in a roadworthy condition prior to the accident because of the condition of the tyres. The Garda said that the seat belt was fastened behind the driver and was not being worn by him at the time of the accident.

Consultant pathologist Professor Muna Sabah told the inquest that she had carried out a post mortem on the body of the deceased and she found it contained high saturation of carbon monoxide. She concluded that death was due to carbon monoxide poisoning and the injuries were secondary to that. He would have lost consciousness before the car fire, she said.The consultant also agreed with Mr Higgins that Mr Smith was deceased before any fire started.

On an application by Mr Higgins the coroner agreed not to bring in a verdict of misadventure and instead recorded a verdict that Mr Smith had died of carbon monoxide poisoning in accordance with Professor Sabah’s findings.

The coroner and Garda Inspector Alan Roughneen extended their sympathy to the family of the deceased. Mr Higgins thanked the Gardai, the coroner and Professor Sabah for the humane way in which the inquest had been conducted.

- Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme