Driver ate McDonald's and fell asleep after fatal hit-and-run in Ballymena, inquest hears
An inquest into the death of John Corr, struck by a car on Cushendall Road in August 2022, heard that the driver fled, ate a Happy Meal, then fell asleep.
Driver ate McDonald's after leaving pedestrian fatally injured on Cushendall Road
A woman who knocked down and killed a pedestrian in Ballymena drove away from the scene, ate a chicken nugget Happy Meal and a caramel McFlurry at a McDonald's, and fell asleep in a car — irishnews.com reports, citing evidence given at an ongoing inquest.
The inquest concerns the death of John Corr, 57, of Dunclug Gardens, Ballymena, who died after being struck by a vehicle on Cushendall Road on the evening of Sunday 8 August 2022.
Fatal collision on Cushendall Road
Mr Corr had been walking home from a nearby shop, having earlier told a friend he intended to buy rolling papers. Witnesses said he was walking partially on the road rather than the pavement, causing passing cars to manoeuvre around him. Shop staff had described him as "unsteady" on his feet. A toxicology report 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. The collision left him with multiple fatal injuries.
Driver fled; car found more than 20 miles away
A female motorist who was travelling on the Cushendall Road told the inquest she witnessed Mr Corr lying in the road with "horrific" injuries. She heard a woman at the scene say "oh no, I've hit him" and repeat that phrase. The woman, later identified as Ms Wallace, told the witness she needed to leave to collect friends in Belfast. The witness said the woman appeared to be "in shock".
Ms Wallace had a male passenger with her, who has since died. The witness described him as appearing "under the influence" and not visibly troubled by the crash. When the witness told Ms Wallace she could not leave, Ms Wallace swore and said "I have a child." A second witness said he saw her being pushed back towards her car by the male companion.
A third motorist told the inquest he had noticed Mr Corr walking roughly half a metre into the road. He was then passed by a car that "seemed like it was veering into my lane", forcing him to sound his horn. Unsettled by the combination of the erratic driving and the man in the road, he turned back along the Cushendall Road and found Mr Corr lying injured.
Ms Wallace's vehicle was subsequently found in what was described as a "rather secluded location" near the village of Stranocum, more than 20 miles from Ballymena. Her parents later contacted police to report her involvement.
Friend received a 'hysterical' call
A male friend of Ms Wallace told the inquest he drove to Stranocum after receiving a "hysterical" late-night call from her. When he arrived, he saw the damaged car, which he said looked as though "she had hit an elephant."
Ms Wallace asked him to drive her male companion home to Greysteel. During the journey, she refused to answer questions about what had happened and seemed "out of it" before falling asleep. After dropping off the passenger, she asked her friend to take her to McDonald's, where she ate a chicken nugget Happy Meal and a caramel McFlurry in the car park.
She then phoned her ex-partner. The friend told the inquest he heard her say: "I have killed a man, I hit him with my car."
Describing their friendship, he 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 told police she was 'frightened and panicked'
A PSNI officer told the inquest that when interviewed, Ms Wallace said she had been "frightened and panicked" before leaving the scene. She admitted drinking three pints of cider and taking diazepam on the Saturday evening — the day before the collision. During one interview she cried while viewing CCTV footage of the crash; in another she was said to have used abusive language towards officers.
A toxicologist told the inquest that a urine sample showed Ms Wallace had the Class B drug mephedrone in her system, along with pregabalin. However, it was "not possible" to determine when either substance had been taken, and they may have been consumed 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
Ms Wallace was convicted of failing to remain at the scene of an accident and failure to report in relation to the August 2022 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 further convicted of failing to stop, having no insurance and driving while banned in relation to an incident on 3 July 2023.
The inquest was adjourned and is scheduled to resume in December.
Source: Irish Independent