A YOUNG woman told an inquest how she lost grip of a man’s jumper only a second before he was struck by a rally car.
Richard O’Donnell was killed instantly as he tried to cross a road during the Donegal International Rally on June 14th, 2008.
An inquest into the 18-year-old’s death was told how he had jumped over a gate and was on the road for only two seconds before being struck by a Fiesta SR rally car travelling at speeds of up to 103km/h.
The victim was thrown through the air and landed 60m away.
Eyewitness Laura Cole travelled to the rally with Mr O’Donnell and other friends. They found a suitable location in a field in a townland called Ballyare, outside Ramelton, on the 11th stage of the rally known as Carnhill.
However, after he had watched the first 20 cars drive by, Mr O’Donnell decided to move to a different location.
Ms Cole told the inquest she followed him. He jumped over a gate as another friend called to him. “A marshal blew a whistle and I grabbed Richard by his jumper to stop him going on. But I lost grip on his jumper and I heard another friend, Gary, shouting at him. All I remember was seeing him going up in the air and I fell back in shock,” she said.
Chief medical officer at the rally, Dr Pauric Conneally, attended the victim and pronounced Mr O’Donnell, of Jefferson Court, Strabane, Co Tyrone, dead at 3.30pm.
Garda witnesses told Letterkenny Coroner’s Court that Welsh rally-driver Elfyn Evans braked and was slowing down in an attempt to avoid Mr O’Donnell.
The court heard that there was only a 30-second stop-gap between drivers because of an earlier delay.
Eyewitness Darren Coyle described how people shouted at the victim to get off the road just seconds before he was hit. “I saw a young lad climbing over the field and he had a bottle of beer in his hand.
“He was looking up the road so he would never have seen the rally car coming. There was nothing the driver could have done to avoid him – he ran into his path.”
Stage commander of the rally Andrew Frater said all marshals were experienced and used their whistles to inform spectators about oncoming cars.
Pathologist Catriona Dillon said there was evidence of severe alcohol intoxication.
The jury found in accordance with coroner John Cannon’s direction that death was due to a road traffic accident. They added a “rider” asking all sports spectators to take extra care and obey all signs and safety regulations.