Nenagh motorist who plummeted over roadside embankment is fined for careless driving

A motorist who crashed her vehicle in over a roadside embankment had to be airlifted to hospital by helicopter, Judge Shalom Binchy was told at Nenagh District Court.

Saoirse Harty, 32, of Richmond, Nenagh, pleaded to careless driving at Five Alley, Carrigatoher, Nenagh, on April 16, 2022.

Garda Aidan Foley, Nenagh Garda Station, told the court that he answered a call about a single vehicle accident at Five Alley at approximately 3.40pm and when he went to the scene he came across a vehicle that had gone in over the roadside embankment. The vehicle had dropped about 15 feet down the embankment.

He made his way down to the vehicle w, which was upside down, and called the emergency services. The driver had to be airlifted to hospital in Limerick by helicopter.

Garda Foley said that witnesses had reported that the vehicle had been observed jerking to the right and then to the left before the incident.

The road was subsequently closed for a forensic collision investigation and a crane had to be used to lift the vehicle back to the road.

He said that the road was straight but with a slight bend and the accident had happened before the bend.

The speed limit on the road was 100km/h and it had been estimated that Ms Harty had been driving at between 80km/h and 103km/h, he said.

Garda Foley agreed with Kenny Kerins, BL, for Ms Harty, that she had suffered significant injuries and the car had been on its roof.

Mr Kerins pointed out that no other road users had been put in danger.

He said that Ms Harty was a gardener in a local hotel and was grateful that she had recovered from her injuries.

She had learned a lesson to keep a well-maintained car, he said.

Judge Binchy asked if there was a question of defective brakes and Mr Kerins replied that Ms Harty had set about the repair of them.

She fined Ms Harty €500.