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Crash inquest fails to find why car did not stop

Family handout A compilation photo showing married couple Varena and Paul Creelman, and Varena's brother Phil Hegarty. Varena had short, grey hair and was wearing a dark jacket. Paul had a white beard and was wearing a dark suit and a blue tie and Phil is pictured on his own smiling at the camera. He has short, white hair and was wearing a black shirt. Family handout
Married couple Varena and Paul Creelman, and Varena's brother Phil Hegarty

An inquest into the deaths of three members of a County Londonderry family who died in a road crash has heard the victims were "full of life", "full of fun" and missed by many.

A coroner has found the car they were in failed to stop at a crossroads near Portglenone in July 2020.

Husband and wife Paul and Verena Creelman from Kilrea died alongside Mrs Creelman's brother, Phil Hegarty.

Their vehicle was travelling between 30 and 38mph when it did not stop at a junction on Lisnahunshin Road and collided with another car.

The coroner ruled that the other driver did not cause or contribute to the collision in any way.

She added that the driver of the other vehicle would only have seen their car less than one second before impact.

At the inquest findings hearing on Friday, the coroner reflected comments from Mikaela Creelman, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Creelman.

She had described her parents as "full of life" and "full of fun" who had a loving relationship after being married for 34 years.

The victims' daughter also said the three victims were all close, and very friendly, adding that Mr Hegarty is "missed by many".

Paul Creelman, who was 65, was driving the car when it crashed.

His daughter had told the inquest that while he was unfamiliar with the roads, he "was a cautious driver" and she "couldn't understand why he didn't stop".

A police van parked on a rural road leading to the crash scene in July 2020. A "police road closed" sign is placed beside the van. There are a number of houses along the road.
The police closed a number of roads following the crash in July 2020

This was something the coroner was also unable to ascertain, based on all the evidence and witness statements, saying she could not find why out he did not brake.

She noted that there was signage before the junction; five raised red-coloured strips; a "stop 100 yds" sign and a stop sign with a yellow-coloured back board nearly 10 yds from the junction.

Signage of rumble strips had been erected because of a prior collision two years earlier.

"All signage was in a good position to be seen," the coroner said.

"I find he was travelling towards crossroads at approximately 38mph."

As Mr Creelman got closer, "he was coasting between 30-38mph".

The coroner told the court "he did not brake and continued through the junction without stopping".

"The oncoming car was in [its] own lane, within speed limit, and could not have seen the vehicle until one second before impact.

"The deceased and his two passengers sustained significant injuries and tragically all three died at the scene."

The coroner added her personal condolences to the family.