Two drivers seriously injured in head-on collision - court convicts man of careless driving

Both the defendant and the driver of the other car were left with serious injuries following the incident.

Inspector Eleanor O’Halloran said gardaí received a report of a road collision at Ballyrafton, Jenkinstown, at 6.45am on January 23, 2025.

Jerome Hayes, 105 Roberts Hill, Kilkenny, was the driver of one of the vehicles, on Opel Corsa.

The injured party was a woman travelling to work in Kilkenny City, driving a Kia Sportage. The woman told gardaí that she had just turned onto the N78 when she noticed a car coming towards her, swerving from side to side.

The other vehicle lost control and hit her head-on, on her side of the road.

Both vehicles were written-off.

The woman was taken to Waterford University Hospital where she was treated for a broken tibia and fibula, and broken ribs. She attended the court hearing with an external fixator frame and pins still stabilising her injured leg.

The woman has been out of work for 17 months, the court was told and is still receiving medical treatment.

Mr Hayes denied speeding on the morning. He said the rear wheels of his car “came forward” and he lost control of his vehicle.

He saw the other car and tried to avoid it.

He was taken to St Luke’s General Hospital after the crash to be treated for some injuries.

Inspector O’Halloran said both vehicles had been inspected by a PSV Inspector and were found to have nothing wrong with them.

Both drivers had all their documents in order.

It was a winter morning.

Solicitor Ed Hughes, defending Mr Hayes, said his client had been driving around a corner when the back of his car slid out.

Judge Geraldine Carthy enquired if this was because of the road surface or something else.

Inspector O’Halloran said Mr Hayes made a statement in which he referred to “slipping on gravel or dirt” and then swerved for “10 or 20 seconds.”

Mr Hughes extended apologies to the injured party on his client’s behalf. It had not been an intentional act, he said.

His client had travelled that road “many times” and conditions that morning were “very greasy.”

Judge Carthy observed that “surely there should have been enough time to brake or turn into the ditch?” She said there was “a piece of this jigsaw missing.”

Mr Hughes said his client had tried to correct the slide of his car but over-corrected and by that time he was on the wrong side of the road.

Mr Hayes had been fully taxed and insured, the solicitor said. He did believe this was an accident, he added, saying there was no evidence that Mr Hayes was travelling too fast.

Mr Hughes asked the court to give his client the benefit of the doubt.

Mr Hayes was also seriously injured in the crash – his left foot was shattered, Mr Hughes told the court. He said it was an incident he would like to have never happened.

Mr Hayes is a 27 year-old apprentice electrician, and he will need his licence when he is qualified, the court was told. He has not been driving since May.

Judge Carthy said Mr Hayes had pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving, which had been reduced from an original charge of dangerous driving with the approval of the DPP. The judge said that she would not have been of a mind to accept the reduced charge, but it had already been accepted by the state.

Unfortunately, as a result of losing control of his vehicle, Mr Hayes hit an oncoming car and they both suffered extensive injuries.

Convicting him of careless driving, Judge Carthy imposed a fine of €1,000 on the defendant and disqualified him from driving for one year.

Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.