An inquest in Enniskillen this week heard how 17-year-old Damien McGovern from Letterbreen died after the car he was a front seat passenger in, left the road and struck a lamp post and two trees in a single vehicle accident on the Sligo Road, Belcoo.
The accident took place at approximately 9.00pm on Sunday, 11th March 2007. It involved a blue Volkswagen Golf in which there were two occupants, the driver Paul Gallagher from Drumcarlin West, Letterbreen, and the late Damien McGovern, from Gardrum Road.
Shortly before the accident, the two friends had been selling lotto tickets for their local GAA club, Belcoo GFC.
The court heard that Damien, an apprentice plasterer, died rapidly at the scene from spine and neck injuries including a partial transection of the cervical spinal cord, and fracture of the first cervical vertebra, the injuries having been sustained as a result of the collision.
The Coroner, Suzanne Anderson recorded that on Sunday, 11th March, the deceased was a front seat passenger in a Volkswagen Golf which was travelling in the direction of Belcoo shortly before 9.00pm. Negiotating a left hand bend, the nearside wheels of the car hit the grass verge before the car crossed the road striking a lamppost and two trees. The car came to rest on its roof. The emergency services were called, but Damien died at the scene. The Coroner noted that he was not wearing a seatbelt.
Inspector Ian Kennedy, who investigates 'killed and injury' accidents for the PSNI in Fermanagh, gave evidence of inspecting the scene which, he stated, was just outside a 30 mile speed limit. He told the inquest that the vehicle had made impact with a street lamppost, then a small tree and then a large tree trunk. Damage was caused to the front nearside wing of the car. The road was wet and there was light rain at the time.
The Coroner referred to a statement taken from Paul Gallagher after the accident in which he estimated that he was driving at approximately 45 miles per hour. He had experience of driving a tractor for two years and had passed his test in June 2006. The Court heard how Mr Gallagher had been prosecuted in the Magistrate's Court for careless driving and received a £750 fine and a nine month driving ban.
Mr Gallagher stated that he was extremely upset following the tragedy and deeply and profoundly regretted the pain and suffering caused to Damien's family. He said Damien and himself were great friends and had been from primary school, and went everywhere together.
Mr Gallagher explained how he had picked the deceased up at his home at approximately 8.00pm before heading out to sell lotto tickets for Belcoo GFC. He described how he was approaching a left hand bend prior to the accident, conditions were wet and he was not driving hard.
He recalled how driving up the road as normal when the tail of the car went out. In overcorrecting the manoeuvre, the accident occurred.
He remembered seeing a shiny post and gripped for his life while telling his friend to hold on tight.
Following the impact, the car was on its roof and he was left dangling. He looked at his friend who was lying on the roof and he saw smoke. He feared the car would blow up, so he kicked his belt off and then kicked the passenger door open. His immediate response, he explained, was to get Damien out and he pulled him out by the feet. He turned him over and knew he had nearly passed away.
Damien Coll, a Senior Scientific Officer for the Forensic Science Service in Northern Ireland and Mechanical Engineer, who examined the scene explained that it was difficult to determine whether speed was a factor in the accident or whether it was a combination of factors in the steering and use of brake application.
The main impact, he stated, was with the lamp post and the passenger side wing and bonnet of the car. The front driver's side of the car had also made substantial impact with the mature tree. He found nothing wrong with the tyres or general condition of the vehicle.
The car tail went out, he said, and there was an initial loss of control. In his attempt to regain control, the driver oversteered. In such a situation he said, a driver can react a little too late and apply more steering to correct than is needed, which is something most drivers would do. Overcorrecting the steering can cause more loss of control making the situation worse rather than better, he added.
In closing, the Coroner extended her sympathies to the McGovern family who, she said had been left devastated by their terrible loss.
