A Ballinamore motorcyclist died in a crash with a van during a heavy hailstorm, according to an inquest today.
The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.
49-year-old Andrew Mitchell, from Derradda, Ballinamore, died after coming off his Honda Moped at Aghacashlaun, Drumcong, Co Leitrim, on March 3, 2022, at around 5 o’clock in the evening.
It happened on the R208, which links Carrick-on-Shannon to Ballinamore, and Mr Mitchell was pronounced dead at the scene.
The inquest into his death took place today in Carrick-on-Shannon, which heard courier Dermot Maxwell, from Drumliffen, Glebe, Kilclare, Carrick-on-Shannon, was driving a Volkswagen Crafter van behind Mr Mitchell.
In his first deposition read out today, he said there was a shower of hailstones at the time but he neither felt nor heard any impact between his van and the motorcyclist.
He said people who arrived at the scene tried to do CPR on the motorcyclist and the gardai and ambulance arrived soon after.
Mr Maxwell said he was in complete shock at the scene, was traumatised by what he saw and thinks about it every day since.
In a second statement taken later, Mr Maxwell said he accepts he was in a collision with Mr Mitchell’s scooter, after new information was made known to him.
He said he wasn’t driving dangerously, and he was driving less than 80 kilometres an hour. He said it was during a hailstorm and his vision was impaired.
He said he didn’t see the scooter as he came around a bend and didn’t know he hit the scooter.
He said he’d now been told from a collision investigation report that he did hit the back of Mr Mitchell’s scooter, and he accepts this.
He said, even if he had seen him, he doesn’t think he could have avoided him given the conditions.
He said he’s very sorry Mr Mitchell lost his life and expressed his sincere sympathy to his family.
Witness Noel Sheahan, from Woodland Drive, College Wood, Mallow, Co Cork, who was driving in the opposite direction, also said the conditions were treacherous and the road was like ice.
The inquest heard no prosecutions have been taken in the case.
Sergeant Eoin O’Connor – a forensic road collision investigator – said there was fresh damage, such as dents and scratches, on the front of the van.
He also said there was a fresh dent underneath the van, which corresponded with the shape and height of the front handlebar of the scooter.
Coroner Fergal Kelly returned a verdict of accidental death and noted the ‘significant weather conditions’ at the time.
In a statement read by his solicitor, Mr Mitchell’s brother, Adam, said he was devastated by the loss of his sibling, but said the inquest had gone some way to eliminating his distress.
He said his family are extremely grateful to the independent witness, Mr Sheahan, for ensuring the facts of the case have been clarified.
