A man involved in a road traffic accident in which a cyclist was hospitalised with serious injuries has been fined for careless driving.
Joseph Wall was before Letterkenny District Court in connection with the incident on October 2, 2021.
Wall, a 60-year-old from Elber Avenue, Toombridge, County Antrim, was charged with dangerous driving. The court accepted a plea to a lesser charge of careless driving.
Sergeant Gerard Dalton relayed details of the incident to the court.
Two drivers and a cyclist were all travelling in the same direction on the N15 at Meenacrumlin, Ballybofey on the day in question.
Gardai, who were alerted to a collision, responded and on arrival observed the cyclist being examined at the scene by paramedics. The cyclist was described as being in a ‘serious condition’ and was transferred to Letterkenny University Hospital.
Gardai observed a Ford Ecosport positioned behind the cyclist. The court heard that a part of the bike was lodged in front of the Ford Ecosport.
Gardai also observed a Vauxhall Vivaro, which was towing a trailer with a Subaru Impreza strapped onto it.
Officers were informed that the drivers of the Ford Ecosport and the Vauxhall Vicaro were both travelling to the Harvest Rally in Donegal Town.
James Convery, who was driving the Ecosport, informed Gardai that he was overtaking the cyclist when he heard a bang. When he looked in his rearview mirror, the cyclist was gone from view.
Sergeant Dalton said the car being driven by Wall spun and the cyclist was ‘flipped over’ before colliding with a ditch. Wall had ‘no recollection’ of colliding with the cyclist.
The court was told that neither driver attended hospital for treatment after the collision.
The cyclist spent some time in hospital and sustained broken vertebrae on the lower back as well as suffering damage to the quad muscle and. The cyclist also suffered from head and arm injuries.
Wall has no previous convictions and his solicitor, Ms Maureen Gallagher, said her client had completed the ProSocial driving course.
“At the time of the incident, he was travelling on the road heading for Donegal Town for the Harvest Rally,” Ms Gallagher said. “He is a participant and had a rally vehicle in tow. He may have taken his eyes off the road momentarily. He can’t really explain what happened.”
Judge Ciaran Liddy reduced a dangerous driving charge to one of careless driving and fined Wall €150, allowing three months to pay.
Motorist fined after leaving cyclist with serious injuries was last modified: October 20th, 2023 by