Mayo hit and run death involving Laois driver recorded as accidental homicide

A VERDICT of accidental homicide was recorded in the death of a man in Mayo after he was hit by a passing van driven by a Portlaoise resident.

Deniss Prosvirnevs of Spencer Street, Castlebar died in Mayo University Hospital in the early hours of March 11, 2021 after he had been struck by a van at the entrance to Chestnut Grove estate on Humbert Way in Castlebar.

The Mayo News reported that the inquest into the death of Mr Prosvirnevs, a 45-year-old father of two, which took place in Swinford Courthouse, heard the incident took place while he was walking at approximately 11.45pm.

The van which was driven by Derek Young of St Brigids Place, Portlaoise, Co Laois did not stop and Mr Prosvirnevs was subsequently discovered by a passing motorist.

Roy Cresham told the inquest he was driving home from work at approximately 11.54pm when he passed Mr Prosvirnevs, a Latvian national, lying on the roadside and initially thought he was a bag of rubbish. He was passing it when he realised it was a body so he stopped and turned his car. Mr Cresham said that he remembered two girls getting out of another car and going towards the body and he then rang the gardaí.

Mr Cresham said the girl attending to the victim thought she could feel a slight pulse but was not sure. When gardaí arrived they started to perform CPR.

Mr Cresham also said he remembered asking the operator on the phone how far away was the ambulance and he was informed it was 17 minutes away.

“I said how can it be 17 minutes away and the hospital only down the road. She said that there were no ambulances in the area,” he told the inquest.

Garda Nicola Flesk explained that on the night of the incident there was heavy rain and observed a stream of blood flowing from the body of the victim into a nearby drain when she arrived at the scene.

She said she accompanied the victim to Mayo University Hospital where the medic attempted unsuccessfully to resuscitate him. He was pronounced dead at 1.02am and the cause of death was a traumatic head injury.

Detective Sergeant Michael Doherty explained that when he attended the scene he noted debris from a vehicle scattered the road and preserved the area as a crime scene.

An investigation took place and following an examination of the debris found at the scene it was evident that it belonged to a Volkswagen Crafter van. On March 13, Mr Young was arrested for the offence of dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Prosvirnevs.

The inquest heard that Mr Young subsequently received a 12 month suspended prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to failing to remain at the scene and inform the authorities of the accident. The court sentencing which took place in February heard that Mr Young thought that he had struck a dog while he was travelling towards Westport.

When questioned by Mr Patrick O'Connor, Coroner for the district of Mayo, Det Sgt Doherty said that Mr Young co-operated fully while in garda custody and did not believe there was anything sinister in him failing to remain at the scene.

Mr O'Connor commented that he had asked Mr Young to attend the inquest but was informed he would not be attending. Mr O’Connor added he did not believe that it was necessary to issue him with a witness summons and was happy to proceed with the inquest without him.

Recording a verdict of death due to accidental homicide, Mr O'Connor expressed sympathy to Mr Prosvirnevs family and commended the Good Samaritan roles played by Mr Cresham and the other people and emergency services who attended and assisted Mr Prosvirnevs on the night.