A CRASH investigator told an inquest yesterday that a grandmother who was killed by a bus had found herself in a “blind spot”.
Monica Bennett (66) of Marian Park, Blackrock, Cork, was shopping in Cork city centre on October 7th, 2011, when she was struck by the bus at Parnell Street bus terminus.
Cork City Coroner’s Court heard yesterday that the incident happened when Ms Bennett was crossing the road at the bus station at 5pm as hundreds of commuters stood nearby.
Witness Derek Fitzgerald was standing at his taxi as the events unfolded.
“I saw the middle-aged woman crossing the road, I heard someone shout out ‘watch out’. She must have heard it because she turned but the bus was still moving, then I heard someone shout ‘Oh Jesus’,” he said.
Garda Ray Sweeney, a forensic collision investigator, carried out an examination at the scene to determine exactly what the bus driver could see.
During his examination he asked another garda to stand where the victim was standing during the collision. He could not see the other officer because the ticket machine was blocking his view.
“There was an extensive blind spot. The bus CCTV camera footage confirms that the female was in the blind spot,” he said.
He also stated that the heightened angle created by the raised ramp at the bus station had a significant impact on the crash.
“The position of the ticket machine is a hazard to pedestrians; also the ramp itself is also dangerous. The pedestrian crossing area is not governed by any lights,” he added.
In a deposition to the court, John Stapleton of the road design department at Cork City Council outlined the funding shortfall for the project. The total cost of construction could cost €1.5 million.
The plan for the project was drawn up in 2008 but there was no funding at the planning phase. Mr Stapleton outlined that the “the work will make Parnell Place safer”.
A seven-member jury recorded a verdict of accidental death.A spokesman for Bus Éireann stated that it was working with the Garda and Cork City Council to make Parnell Place safer. He said he could not comment on the positioning of the ticket machine.