This article is from page 18 of the 2011-12-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
A JURY has returned a verdict of accidental death in the case of a Limerick woman who died following a single-vehicle accident at Hurler’s Cross earlier this year.
Aileen Page died when the silver Peugeot 206 she was driving left the road and collided with a tree on a section of the M18 near Shannon.
Ms Page (36), from Beverly Close, Raheen, Limerick, had been on her way to work when the accident occurred in the early hours of May 7.
An inquest into her death at Clare Coroner’s Court last week heard that neither road conditions nor excessive speed were factors in the accident.
Agnieska Kusko came upon the accident when returning from the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Limerick. She rang the emergency services telling them that she thought someone was dead at the scene. Ms Kusko attempted to slow oncoming cars prior to the arrival of Gardaí.
A doctor confirmed Ms Page’s death at the scene.
Sgt Paul Slattery, who attended the scene, told the inquest that the “vehicle had apparently left the road and struck a tree before coming to rest on the road”.
Garda Michael Reddy, PSV investigator, stated that while the road surface was wet, it was not wet enough to collect surface water. He said the car sustained severe damage “due to multiple tree strikes on the driver’s side”.
Garda Reddy said there was no blow-out or tyre failure prior to the collision and no evidence was found of any fault with the car that could have contributed to the collision. He said Ms Page had worn a seatbelt. He explained that road conditions did not contribute to the collision; no defects were found with the car and there was no evidence of excessive speed.
Garda Reddy said it was not possible to establish the cause of the car going out of the driver’s control.
County Coroner Isobel O’Dea said the medical cause of death was acute cardio respiratory failure consistent with injuries caused by a road traffic accident.
She said the only appropriate verdict was accidental death or death consistent with a road traffic accident. A jury returned a verdict of accidental death in accordance with the medical evidence.
Ms O’Dea extended her sympathy to the parents and husband of Ms Page. She described the death as “sad and tragic loss” of a woman on her way to work.
Insp John Galvin extended sympathy to the family on behalf of the Gardaí.