Man appeared to be ‘playing chicken’ with cars before fatal crash

The driver of a car that was involved in a fatal crash in Co Meath three years ago appeared to be playing chicken with a number of other vehicles shortly before the collision, Trim Circuit Court heard on Tuesday.

Garda Tomas Leonard was giving evidence in the trial of Michael Collins (44), of St Finian’s Park, Drogheda, who has pleaded not guilty to a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of Jillian Thornton on May 27th, 2016 at Waterside Great, Duleek .

Mr Collins, who is defending himself, has also pleaded not guilty to two charges of endangerment, 12 charges of dangerous driving and a charge of driving under the influence of an intoxicant on the same date.

Ms Thornton’s body was found after a crash occurred (on the N2) between Ashbourne and Balrath following a 25 minute garda pursuit of a dark coloured Mitsubishi Colt through Drogheda and east Meath.

Swerving

Garda Leonard said he was the observer in a marked patrol car and saw the Mitsubishi drive towards other cars at least three or four times before swerving at the last minute. He said his patrol car was first to arrive at the scene of the fatal crash between it and a Volkswagen Passat.

He rejected a claim by Mr Collins that the crash was caused by a garda car ramming into the back of the Mitsubishi, which he alleged pushed it into the Volkswagen.

Garda Robert Smith told Carl Hanahoe BL, prosecuting, that Mr Collins was trying to get out of the driver’s window of the crashed Mitsubishi when he arrived at the scene and gave a false name when asked to identify himself.

Garda Smith said a woman in the Volkswagen was shouting told him there had been another passenger in the back. He found Ms Thornton in a nearby ditch and initially thought she was alive, so he began performing CPR.

However, the court has heard that Ms Thornton’s injuries resulted in her immediate death.

The trial continues.