Mayo delivery driver (44) lost his life in tragic N59 accident, inquest told
A 44-year-old driver for a parcel delivery company was impaled by a branch of a tree and died instantly after his van left the N59 at Claggan Mountain, Ballycroy, on the morning of February 6, 2025, an inquest has been told.
The inquiry into the death of Michael John Murphy, Belmullet and Upper Drumindoo, Westport, was conducted by the Coroner for the District of Mayo, Dr. Eleanor Fitzgerald.
The father-of-two, who worked for delivery company DPD, was involved in a single vehicle road traffic collision on the Ballycroy to Mulranny road.
Mr. Murphy, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The inquest heard that the Renault Traffic van went over a bank and collided head on with a tree.
There were no signs of life when an ambulance crew arrived on the scene.
Motorist Noreen Ruddy, the first to arrive on the scene, gave a deposition to gardaí which was read into evidence at the inquest by Sergeant Noel Crinnegan, Garda Courts Presenter.
She explained that when she saw that a van had gone off the road she thought it had gone off earlier and had not been removed yet.
But when she checked and saw an arm through the front window she knew there was somebody in the vehicle and rang 999.
Another driver, described by Ms. Ruddy as being of foreign nationality, also stopped and assisted at the scene.
Pathologist Dr. Fadel Bennani outlined the cause of death as multiple injuries including fracture of the cervical spine and a lacerated liver.
Patrick Murphy, a brother of the deceased, addressed the hearing and asked road users to take care “so that others won’t have to go through what we went through.”
He went on to describe his brother as a very experienced driver who knew the road involved ‘like the back of his hand’.
Mr. Murphy said Patrick had been on medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol.
He urged drivers to take personal responsibility for their driving, adding that ‘the authorities can only do so much’.
An examination by a garda PSV inspector indicated that the crash vehicle was serviceable prior to the impact.
Sergeant John Horkan, forensic collision investigator, said that after the impact the driver’s foot was still on the accelerator.
There were no tyre marks or brake marks, Sergeant Horkan stated.
Before returning a verdict of accidental death, the coroner described the circumstances involved as ‘complex’.
Considering what factors may have been involved she noted Mr. Murphy had a history of hypertension and angina.
Sergeant Crinnegan, on behalf of An Garda Síochána, joined the coroner in expressing condolences with Mr. Murphy’s wife and partner and his two children.
* Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.