Motorcyclist lost his leg due to careless driver in The Folly, Waterford city
The victim lost his leg as a result of careless driving by the accused.
A man has been found guilty of careless driving, which resulted in a motorcyclist losing his lower leg.
The man lost his leg, broke his elbow and had to undergo extensive rehabilitation treatment in Dublin.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of July 2, 2023, outside The Sacred Heart Church in The Folly on the R709, when a silver Volkswagen Polo collided with a red Honda motorcycle. The driver of the vehicle was charged with careless driving contrary to both Section 52 (1) of the Road Traffic Act.
Frank Power (67), of Ballyduff, Kilmeadan, pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was represented by barrister Gareth Hayden BL under the instruction of solicitor John Purcell.
Throughout the trial, the jury heard from Gardaí forensic investigators and witnesses of the collision.
The motorcyclist gave evidence from the stand. He told the court that he was on the way to Ardkeen library on the day - "it was a beautiful, sunny day" - and drove his bike from the St John's Park area. He said: "I went up The Folly and a car suddenly came from the left and hit me. It was a tremendous bang and I was thrown to the ground."
He continued: "I was laying on the ground, people came up to me, I remember people telling me not to move. Someone put a tourniquet on my leg, probably saved my life."
In his closing speech, prosecutor Shane O'Callaghan advised the jury: "Don't forget your common sense."
He said that the injured party would have died were it not for the people who rushed to help him on the road. Mr O'Callaghan referenced the horrific injuries suffered by the motorcyclist, the road positioning and the multiple eye witness accounts.
The jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty. Judge Eugene O'Kelly excused them for five years due to the graphic details of the trial.
Power will be sentenced on April 15.
