The NRA is to be asked to ensure that the country’s motorways do not contain pools of water, arising from the death of a 26 year old woman near Crusheen.
An inquest into the death of Galway Student Vicky Courtney heard evidence that she lost her life after driving through what was described as ‘a lake of water’ on the M18 at Ballyline, Crusheen last November.
The Coroner’s Court in Ennis heard that she was driving home to Athenry in heavy rain after dropping off relatives at Shannon airport on November 18th last.
A witness to the fatal crash said Ms Courtney had to aqua-surf through what he called "a lake of water" underneath the motorway bridge, before losing control of her car.
Vicki’s mother, Pamela was a passenger in the car and was also injured – she recounted how a gust of wind hit the car while driving in the fast lane, causing them to swerve towards the barrier before spinning spin around and stopping on its side.
Efforts by emergency personnel to revive Vicki Courtney failed and she died at the scene from multiple trauma injuries.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death with a recommendation that Clare Coroner Isobel O’Dea write to the National Roads Authority to ensure the country’s motorway system contain no pools of water.
