THE FIAT car company has moved to address a design issue raised with it by the Garda following the death of an American tourist in a crash last year, an inquest was told yesterday.
Ruth Dickerson (64) suffered horrific injuries when the car she was driving collided with a Bus Éireann coach on the main Killarney to Tralee road on May 12th last. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ms Dickerson, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, appeared to be slumped over the wheel of her hired Fiat Punto immediately before it crossed the road and into the path of the oncoming bus, the inquest in Kenmare was told.
The bus driver did everything to avoid the collision, which occurred at an area known as Brennan’s Glen, and his vehicle left the road as a result.
After hearing evidence that the Garda had written to Fiat to complain about the design of the Punto, which meant that the bar underneath the steering pump severed the driver’s legs on collision, coroner for south Kerry, Terence Casey, advised car hire companies not to hire such cars to tourists.
“A lot of tourists have accidents on Irish roads and driving these vehicles gives no protection whatsoever,” he said.
Garda public service vehicle inspector Jim O’Brien, who examined the scene and the vehicles, said Fiat had responded to the Garda letter, which was based on a number of incidents, and said its new Punto cars were being fitted with knee air bags.
Ms Dickerson, whose grandmother came from Sneem, was on holiday to visit friends in south Kerry, the inquest heard.
The driver of the Bus Éireann coach, Maurice O’Brien, told his solicitor Pádraig O’Connell that he had 42 years of driving experience.
He told the inquest he had finished his scheduled run from Limerick to Killarney, where the last passenger had alighted, and was on his way to the bus depot in Tralee at 8.25 pm. Visibility was good and it was still bright.
He was driving at 80km/h and had his lights on, as was his custom.
After rounding the bend at Brennan’s Glen, he saw a car coming from the Tralee direction.
It crossed the centre white line and, just before the crash, he perceived the driver’s head bent over the steering wheel. He did everything he could to avoid the collision.
Garda O’Brien said the collision occurred entirely on the Bus Éireann coach’s side of the N22 and both vehicles had been damaged. The hired car had sustained enormous damage, its engine and gear box was torn out. It had crossed the road into the path of the coach.
There was evidence of braking and evasive action by the bus. The seat belt in the car was so extended it was indicative of a person whose body was slumped on to the dash at the moment of impact, he said.
The pathologist’s report showed no traces of alcohol or drugs in Ms Dickerson’s body.
The jury returned a verdict of death due to a road traffic accident.
The coroner said there was no blame attached to the bus driver.