An inquest into the death in a two-vehicle road accident at Batterstown, Co Meath of an 82-year-old woman has been told that one of the vehicles had an anti-lock braking system failure. The Coroner for Meath Nathaniel Lacy conducted the inquest at Trim Courthouse into the death of Ann Bacon of The Lawn, Earlsmeadow, Ballivor and Clondalkin Dublin on 5 th January last year.
Forensic collision investigator Garda John Walsh who examined the scene of the accident at Scarriff Bridge on the R156 at Batterstown said that the collision had occurred at 11.20am and involved a Kia Venga driven by Ms Bacon and a Ford Transit minibus. Ms Bacon car was being driven in a Southeasterly direction and the minibus in the opposite direction.
He said that Ms Bacon’s car was roadworthy and she was wearing a seat belt.
The minibus had had an ABS failure causing the wheels to lock up and this removed the capability of the vehicle. Seat belts were being worn by the driver and his son. As the minibus approached the bridge it slowed from 96kph to 54kph. As it entered onto the bridge the tachograph recorded a second of deceleration and at this stage the front wheels were locked and the bus was skidding to the right.
The Garda said that the driver was attempting to steer out of the collision. He said that had the wheels not locked up the two vehicles should have easily passed one another on the bridge. The Ford Transit showed a very high second of deceleration during which the ABS failed. It skidded into the front of the Venga car. Garda Walsh read a section from a report by a Garda Clarke public service vehicle inspector which said that there were no leaks from the brake pipes but brake fluid was leaking from the damaged fluid reservoir. All brake pads and discs were in good condition.
From visiting the scene there was evidence that there was a possible fault in the braking system as there were lengthy continuous tyre (skid) marks on the road surface which indicated that there was wheel lock-up during braking on the front wheels. Garda Walsh said that on 25 th January last year. It showed that this fault was recorded and stored n inspection including detailed diagnostics was conducted with the assistance of a Ford technician on the braking system of the minibus. It showed that there was a “stored fault code” in the ABS. This was stored in a moment before the collision.
He said that on 8 th March last year the ABS control module was independently tested by specialists in Cork and an analysis showed the ABS to be faulty. It was not building enough braking pressure within the unit and therefore would not provide enough braking force during heavy braking. Garda Walsh said that his Garda PSV colleague said that these findings did not tally with the evidence from the scene of the collision and any damage or fault found with the ABS system were most likely as a result of the collision with damage sustained to the internal sealed valve and hydraulic pump within the ABS module due to the force of impact sustained during the collision.
He said he believed the ABS fault and failure immediately prior to or during the collision was solely down to an electrical fault or communication error between the vehicle’s ECU and the ABS control module. The inquest was told that court summonses were issued to the owner of the minibus for failing to or not instructing his driver and a learner driver not to use his tachograph card. The summonses were withdrawn against the owner and the driver was given the option of a fine and points on his licence or a €500 donation to charity and he chose the poor box option, a Garda told the coroner.
Consultant pathologist Professor Muna Sabah said that following a post mortem she concluded that Ms Bacon had died from blood loss due to a laceration and this would have caused shock to her system. Kevin Wallace, a paramedic with the National Ambulance Service attached to Navan Ambulance Station gave evidence of having assisted the injured at the scene of the accident. The coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. He and Garda Inspector Alan Roughneen extended their condolences to the family of the deceased.
