Death of toddler in Limerick motorway crash was ‘accidental’

AN INQUEST has heard that a “tragic series of events” resulted in the accidental death of a three-year-old girl in a fatal car collision in Patrickswell in 2016.

Kellycia Nudiri, from Abbeyfeale, who was travelling with her twin brother and parents, died after suffering brain injuries following a two-car collision, along the M20 motorway in Barnakyle, Patrickswell, on September 17, 2016.

Coroner John McNamara, addressing the six-person jury, said that the “only appropriate verdict” would be one of accidental death or open verdict.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. 

A forensic collision investigation, led by Sgt Kevin Burke, stated that the incident occurred in the inbound lane of the motorway at 5.10pm. 

Sgt Burke’s report stated that the Renault Megane, in which Kellycia’s mother Rita Tshilumbu was driving, veered to the right causing a Toyota Avensis, carrying three passengers, to make “evasive right steering”, and for the Renault to go into an “exaggerated oversteer”.

Sgt Burke stated that “excess speed” was not a factor in the collision. 

According to witness Aisling McInerney, the Renault “lost control and somersaulted over the barrier” on the motorway.

Witnesses said that a number of people had to remove Kellycia from underneath the car at the scene. She was later pronounced dead at UHL.

Mr McNamara said: “This was clearly an accident. This wasn’t anybody’s fault. Clearly, it was an unfortunate accident.”