Driver ate McDonald's and fell asleep after fatal hit-and-run in Ballymena

An inquest heard Zoe Wallace fled the scene after striking pedestrian John Corr on Cushendall Road in August 2022, then ate a Happy Meal before falling asleep.

Driver ordered McDonald's and fell asleep after leaving man fatally injured on Ballymena road

A woman drove more than 20 miles from the scene of a fatal collision, ate a McDonald's Happy Meal in a car park, and fell asleep — all before police were alerted that a man lay dying on a Co Antrim road. The Irish Independent reports the details emerged at the inquest into the death of John Corr, a 57-year-old pedestrian from Dunclug Gardens, Ballymena, who was struck by a vehicle on Cushendall Road on the evening of Sunday 8 August 2022.

Corr had been returning home from a local shop, having earlier told a friend he was going out to buy rolling papers. Witnesses described seeing him walking partially on the road rather than the pavement, causing passing cars to move out of his way. Shop staff had described him as "unsteady" on his feet. A toxicology examination later found cocaine, cannabis, and prescription medication in his system.

He was struck by a car driven by Zoe Wallace, 26, from Grange Drive, Ballymoney. Her vehicle was subsequently located in a "rather secluded location" near the village of Stranocum — more than 20 miles from the scene.

Witnesses described chaos at the scene

A female motorist who had been travelling on Cushendall Road told the inquest she came upon Corr lying on the road with "horrific" injuries. She heard a woman nearby repeat the phrase "oh no, I've hit him" and say she needed to leave to collect friends in Belfast. The witness said she believed the woman was "in shock".

A second witness told the inquest he saw the same woman being pushed back towards her car by a male companion. He heard her say she was going to retrieve her phone and was "not going anywhere". A third motorist described how the car that passed him appeared to veer into his lane, prompting him to sound his horn. Struck by the erratic driving, he turned back along the road shortly afterwards and found Corr lying injured.

Wallace told the woman at the scene she could not leave, to which Wallace swore before adding: "I have a child."

Friend received 'hysterical' late-night call

A male friend of Wallace's told the inquest he drove to Stranocum after receiving a distressed late-night call from her. On arrival, he found her damaged vehicle, which he said looked as though "she had hit an elephant". Wallace refused to answer his questions during the journey, appeared "out of it", and fell asleep. After he dropped off the male passenger who had been travelling with Wallace — a man the inquest noted has since died — Wallace asked to be taken to McDonald's.

The friend said she ate a chicken nugget Happy Meal and a caramel McFlurry in the car park. While there, she phoned her former partner. The friend told the inquest he overheard her say: "I have killed a man, I hit him with my car."

Describing his broader experience of Wallace, the friend said: "Many times I have went out and she was stuck in a hedge... she was always calling me to come and get her."

Wallace's parents later contacted police to report her involvement in the collision.

Alcohol and drugs disclosed in police interviews

A PSNI officer told the inquest that when interviewed, Wallace said she had been "frightened and panicked" before leaving the scene. She acknowledged drinking three pints of cider and taking diazepam on the Saturday evening — the night before the fatal collision. During one interview she cried while watching CCTV footage related to the crash; in another, she was said to have used abusive language towards officers.

A toxicologist told the inquest that a urine sample taken from Wallace showed the presence of Class B drug mephedrone and pregabalin, but said it was "not possible" to determine when those substances had been consumed, and that they may have been taken after the collision. The court heard there was "no way to say if she was impaired at the time of the accident".

Convictions and sentencing

Wallace was convicted of failing to remain at the scene of the accident and failure to report the collision. She received an 18-month probation order, a nine-month driving ban, and 100 hours of community service at Ballymena Magistrates' Court.

During sentencing, the court also heard she had been convicted of being drunk while in charge of a vehicle, dangerous driving, failing to stop, and having no insurance in connection with a separate incident on 15–16 April 2023. She was subsequently convicted of a further offence on 3 July 2023, relating to failing to stop, having no insurance, and driving while banned.

Corr's inquest is ongoing.

Source: Irish Independent