Westmeath Inquest Delivers Death "From Injuries In Road Accident" Verdict

Wednesday, 1 July 2026 08:11

Christopher Richard Dedera died after being involved in a two vehicle collision on the N4

A 64-year-old American man who was on his way to fulfil his “dream” of cycling around the West of Ireland died in a two-vehicle road accident on the N4 outside Ballinalack last year, an inquest has been told.

Westmeath coroner Emily Mahon conducted the inquest at Mullingar Courthouse into the death of Christopher Richard Dedera, a retire consultant of Forest Lakes Drive, at Keller in Texas.

Mr Dedera’s widow Corine attended the inquest by video link.

The inquest was told by Kevin Byrne of Tailteann Court, Mullingar that he was a front seat passenger in a car driven by his wife and with three children in the back, when he saw a Volkswagen car merging across the road at a 45 degree angle.

The car then crashed into a van travelling behind him, Mr Byrne said.

He approached the VW car after the accident but could not see anyone inside because of smoke emerging from the vehicle.

A wheelbrace was brought to the scene and entry was gained to the vehicle.

Mr Dedera was taken from the vehicle and Mr Byrne’s wife stated resuscitation.

Mr Byrne also said it did not seem as if the VW car was driving over the speed limit.

Nurse Laura McAuliffe who was driving in the area said she saw a man being attended to and took over CPR but was unable to get a pulse from Mr Dedera. Some time after the accident she went back to the scene to lay flowers.

Garda Niall Keenan gave evidence that Mr Byrne had told him that the VW car had merged slow over to the wrong side of the road.

Forensic collision investigator Garda Maurice Mahon said that from his examination there had been no pre-impact braking of Mr Dedera’s car.

He found that Mr Dedera’s car was yawing at two degrees per se cond, then six degrees per second prior to impact.

Consultant pathologist Dr Nazia Raheem who carried out a post mortem on Mr Dedera’s body said that there was nothing to prove that the deceased had suffered any medical incident prior to the crash.

She concluded that death was was caused by asphyxia due to compression.

The coroner returned a verdict that Mr Dedera had died of injuries in a road accident.

The coroner and Sergeant Orla Keenan said they wanted to express their condolences to Mr Dedera’s family.

Mr Dedera’s wife said she wished to thank Mr Byrne, Ms McAuliffe, the staff of Midlands Regional Hospital, the Gardai and coroner and her staff and everybody who had helped Christopher following the accident.