Crash impact was so severe car was spun 180 degrees, Cork court told

A woman charged with dangerous driving struck another motorist’s car so hard it was spun 180 degrees on the road and came to rest facing in the opposite direction, Macroom District Court has heard.

Court presenter Inspector Anthony Harrington told the district court that the incident happened at a crossroads near Rylane, Co Cork on Sunday, September 29, 2024. The court was told that on the day in question a status orange weather warning was in place and conditions were wet and windy, with debris being blown onto road carriageways.

A motorist who was driving his Skoda Citigo car towards Millstreet from Cork approached the junction near Rylane when he was struck by another vehicle attempting to turn right onto a minor road. The motorist said that the blue Nissan Juke that crossed his path and struck the front of his vehicle “was travelling so fast I barely registered it”.

He added: “The impact was so hard my car was spun around 180 degrees and I ended up facing in the opposite direction.” The court was told that the driver of the Skoda suffered three broken toes, and a broken ankle which required six screws and two plates to repair, as well as a pinched nerve.

Weather conditions

Sergeant Kieran Crowley from Macroom Garda Station said he arrived at the scene at 6.45pm and described the weather conditions as “miserable”. He said that the drivers of both vehicles tested negative for alcohol and intoxicants at the scene, and both had all of their documents in order. He said there was no evidence either of the vehicles involved was mechanically defective.

The driver of the Nissan, Sunda Manuel, aged 32, of Church Road, Ballydesmond, Co Cork, said that she was on her way to Cork Airport to collect her husband. Ms Manuel said that her four-month-old child was in a baby seat in the back of the car.

She told the court that she believed she had time to make the turn onto the minor road, but the Skoda “came faster than I thought it would”. Ms Manuel said her main concern was to prevent her child being injured.

She said in her statement that after the collision occurred she got out of the vehicle and the other driver asked her if she was OK. She said that she asked him “why he was driving so fast”, and began screaming: “My baby, my baby!” when she realised the child had a bump on the head.

She said that her child was kept in hospital for observation for two nights, but did not suffer any long-term injuries.

Consider

Defence solicitor, Patrick Goold, said that Ms Manuel made an error but asked the court to consider the lesser charge of careless driving rather than dangerous driving. He said the location of the collision was a well-known “accident black spot” and conditions were poor at the time.

He said there was no doubt an error was made, but in mitigation, Ms Manuel was not speeding, had not consumed intoxicants, and was fully insured. He added that she was fully co-operative with gardaí.

Judge Treasa Kelly said that on viewing photographs and a map of the crash location, it was apparent that Ms Manuel had a view of the road ahead and the car approaching. She said: “It seems to me that she took a chance, and I think that was dangerous rather than careless in the circumstances.”

Sunda Manuel was convicted of dangerous driving, fined €300 with three months to pay, and disqualified from driving for two years. Recognisance in the event of an appeal was fixed in her own bond of €300.

• This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.