A WOMAN has gone on trial in Tralee, Co Kerry, charged with dangerous driving causing death in a three-car incident on the main national primary road between Tralee and Killarney.
The crash resulted in the death of another woman. Three cars and two impacts were involved, but the accused was the cause of both impacts, prosecuting counsel Tom Rice told the Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
Geraldine O’Shea (39), Riverwalk, Oakpark, Tralee, has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Bernadette Dillane early on the afternoon of September 24th, 2006.
Ms Dillane, a passenger in a vehicle driven by her husband, was badly injured and never regained consciousness. She died two weeks later at Kerry General Hospital, the court heard, on the opening day of what is expected to be a three-day trial.
The incident occurred near a bridge over the river Maine, about 3km on the Tralee side of Farranfore village on the N22, on a new stretch of road.
Mr Rice said the Dillane family was driving towards Tralee and Mr Dillane had stopped their car after indicating his intention to turn right.
Traffic behind the Dillane car filtered past on the left side hard shoulder.
However, Ms O’Shea, who was also approaching from behind, did not filter into the left and struck into the rear of the Dillane car, he said.
The force of the impact drove the Dillane car across the road to the opposite lane, where it was hit by another car approaching from the Tralee side.
Mr Rice said the prosecution’s case was that the sole cause of the crash was the failure of Ms O’Shea to see the Dillane car and to pass it on the left side.
The case is continuing before Judge Carroll Moran and a jury of six men and six women.