A man died eight days after an accident in which he lost control of his car and crashed during a high-speed race with a friend, the Dublin City Coroner's Court heard yesterday. Mr Thomas Hogan (21), of Albert Street, Clonmel, Tipperary, died in Beaumont Hospital on August 15th, 1996, eight days after the accident at Knockmack West, Clonmel. He had been transferred to Beaumont from Cashel Hospital on the night of the accident.
Ms Sonia Bonelli, his girlfriend, said Mr Hogan was driving very fast and would not slow down before he lost control of the car. She thought the car overturned a few times and said she didn't know how she was alive after the incident. Garda Gerry Canty said that only one vehicle was involved in the accident. Damage to the car indicated it was travelling at a very high speed. The accident, he said, was investigated both by him and also by a Garda superintendent at the request of the Hogan family and it was found that no other vehicle was involved.
Mr Niall O'Dwyer said his friend, Mr Hogan, had asked him to race. He chased Mr Hogan's car and when he overtook it he was doing at least 80 m.p.h. While he was ahead of the car, his brother told him the lights were "all over the place". He returned to the scene of the accident, where he did all he could for his severely injured friend.
A post-mortem report indicated that death was due to severe head injuries and the jury of four men and two women recorded a verdict of accidental death.