Court hears leg spasm caused crash involving elderly motorist in Offaly

A LEG spasm was the cause of a motorist losing control of his car and colliding with another vehicle, Tullamore District Court was told.

John Byrne (73), Carrigshona, Rock Lane, Birr was prosecuted for dangerous driving at Loughnane's filling station, Circle K, Birr but a reduction of the charge to careless driving was accepted by Judge Andrew Cody.

Sergeant Richard Thornton told the court that on July 22 last year at the filling station one vehicle appeared to go out of control and collide with another one.

Counsel for Mr Byrne said the man had undergone spinal surgery the previous November which can result in paralysis of the leg.

He said the accused, who was a retired UCD lecturer, had lost the power in his leg and the car had also accelerated because it was an hybrid electric vehicle.

Defence counsel said the driver's foot had a spasm and a loss of sensation. Prior to that he had a 50-year unblemished driving record and he had been cleared to drive the January before the collision.

Judge Cody imposed a fine of €500.