Mother of toddler killed in road accident says 'I don’t think I would forget a single detail'
A mother said she would not forget a single detail of the day that her two-year-old daughter died after a road traffic collision involving a 40ft articulated truck, .
Patrick Corcoran, with an address at Castlefarm Stud, Narraghmore, Athy, Co Kildare, pleaded not guilty at Waterford Circuit Court to careless driving.
It is the State’s case that the 49-year-old truck driver drove without due care or attention, thereby causing the death of Daenerys Crosbie-Callaghan on November 18, 2014, at Manor St.
Carole Anne Crosbie told barrister for the State, David Humphries, she was late for work and her daughter was late for her first day of crèche, as the first bus was full.
She was just a few feet away from the crèche on Manor St when she tried to cross the road.
Ms Crosbie said traffic was still on her side when she stepped off the footpath.
The other side started to flow and before she could do anything the truck started to move.
Both mother and daughter went under. Bystanders assisted Carole Anne and Daenerys until emergency services arrived.
Carole Anne later identified her daughter’s body.
Bernard Condon SC, defending, put it to her that a consequence of such a tragic event might have had an effect on her memory.
“I don’t think I would forget a single detail of what happened that day,” she said.
The court heard that an examination of the articulated truck and trailer found it to be in good roadworthy condition.
A hands-free kit was also in working order. There were no tyre or skids marks at the site of the collision.
However, forensic collision investigator Garda Ruth Finn confirmed that if the woman and child were within the range of the Cyclops mirror at the front of the truck they would be visible to the driver.
During a statement, Mr Corcoran told gardaí that what happened still goes through his head, but added he had nothing to answer.
He said he has over 30 years’ experience driving articulated trucks and no penalty points.
He arrived in Waterford minutes before the accident. He said he heard a noise that sounded like he drove over a copper pipe, followed by screaming.
He stopped straight away.
Before he heard the noise he was looking straight ahead and added he was in the habit of looking in his mirrors.
The trial continues today.
