Car engine was flung 20ft into the air after devastating Waterford collision
The victim, a young woman, was on her way to sit an exam in Cork.
A man has been jailed for a dangerous driving incident, which led to a serious collision with another vehicle in County Waterford.
The head-on collision was so severe that the engine of the victim's vehicle detached from her car upon impact and flew 20-feet into the air.
Although eye-witnesses at the scene initially feared for her life, the young woman survived.
She says that the incident has had devastating impacts on her life.
At approximately 6am on August 1, 2024, a Volkswagen Golf driven by 27-year-old Alberto Rodriguez was driving on the N25 in the Kilmeaden area.
Rodriguez, who resides at Castlewood, Little Island, Co. Cork, was on his way to his job as a diving instructor in Kilmore Quay.
Dashcam footage captured by road users prior to the collision shows the man's car overtaking multiple vehicles at considerable speed.
Near Haughton's Pub, Rodriguez attempted to overtake a lorry and struck a Renault Clio, which was travelling in the opposite direction.
The young woman driving the Renault was on her way to sit an exam in Cork where she studies.
Major damage was done to both vehicles, and an eyewitness said they heard a “massive bang”, while another said they saw a large plume of smoke coming from the cars.
One driver stopped his vehicle and went to investigate the collision.
He said that after checking the injuries obtained by the woman, he was fearful that she was dead.
The woman was passed out, and only remembers waking up to see the windscreen smashed in front of her.
Mr. Rodriquez, whose car ended up in a ditch, exited his vehicle unscathed and went to check on the young woman. He apologised to her at the scene, before being brought to Waterford Garda Station.
The woman was rushed to University Hospital Waterford for treatment.
During interview with gardaí, Rodriguez said he was running late to work that day.
He accepted responsibility and told gardaí the collision was his fault.
The man was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and has no previous convictions.
Meanwhile, the victim was being treated at UHW for broken fingers, a fractured ankle and cuts and bruises all over her body.
In her Victim Impact Statement provided to the court, she said she has had repeated surgeries since the collision and has suffered from regular pain.
She has been diagnosed with PTSD, and since the incident she says she has experienced flashbacks, as well as nightmares which involve vehicle collisions and explosions.
The incident has had a “profound and lifechanging impact” on her, and has affected her employment, education and overall quality of life, she stated.
Mr. Rodriguez submitted a letter of apology to the victim.
He outlined in it that he feels “ashamed” and “remorseful”.
During sentencing, Judge Eugene O’Kelly said the man was travelling at a “profoundly excessive speed” and performed an “extremely dangerous manoeuvre”.
Judge O’Kelly added that the man displayed a “total disregard” to the location he attempted to overtake, which was within the confines of a hatched road marking zone.
The defendant's solicitor enquired over the possibility of his client avoiding a custodial sentence, and asked that community service be considered instead.
Judge O’Kelly rejected the suggestion, saying that the court must “send out a clear message of deterrence”.
He sentenced the man to two years and three months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended.
He has been disqualified from driving for five years.
