Family of man killed by Luas tram call for review of security
Inquest told how driver ‘never spotted’ dad-of-one on tracks
Visibility on the track is difficult & very poor PHILIP CASHERA TRAM DRIVER TELLS INQUEST
THE family of a man who was hit by a Luas tram have called for a review of security on the light rail network.
Chinedu Oloo-omee died after being struck by a tram near the stop at Kingswood, Tallaght, on the Luas Red Line around midnight on March 12, 2019.
Dublin District Coroner’s Court heard the driver never saw the 30-year-old, from the city’s Ashtown, who was heavily intoxicated and lying on the track.
Mr Oloo-omee’s brother expressed concern that his inquest left questions unanswered as he had been escorted off another Luas tram a short time earlier.
Chukwudi Oloo-omee said after the inquest that there was CCTV from the driver’s cabin that had not been made available to the coroner.
He said there should be some system in place where Luas security staff could advise tram drivers about someone who is intoxicated being near the tram lines.
He added: “There should be some communication with drivers to say it’s rainy, be attentive, there’s someone in the area who is not co-operating with security guards.” The inquest showed
CCTV images from Luas trams which captured the dad-of-one lying on the track but he was barely able to be seen. Driver Philip Cashera said weather conditions on the night were “atrocious” as there had been a severe storm with torrential rain.
Mr Cashera described visibility on the stretch of track where the collision took place as “very difficult and very poor”.
The driver stressed he never saw anyone on the track before hearing a loud bang about 150 yards after the stop at Kingswood.
He hit the emergency brake and discovered a body lying on the ground at the back of the Luas. Mr Cashera said he was “in a state of shock”.
He pointed out that the driver of a tram heading in the other direction, which he had just passed, had not seen anyone either.
The inquest heard the fatal accident occurred on a section of track where drivers would not expect to see pedestrians as access was restricted by hedges and fences.
Data captured from the tram showed it was travelling at 49kph at the time of impact – well within the speed limit of 70kph for that section of track. Pathologist Dr Kevin O’hare said the dead man suffered multiple fractures including his skull and legs as well as severe damage to his brain, liver and heart. He said death would have been “instantaneous”, although there were no crush injuries which indicated the tram had not driven over the victim. Toxicology reports showed Mr Olooomee had a blood-alcohol concentration of 400mg per 100ml – eight times the legal drink-driving limit – and there was evidence of cocaine consumption. CCTV footage from the two Luas trams showed Mr Olooomee in a slumped position on the track. The inquest heard he was wearing a black jacket and jeans on the night. In earlier evidence, security guard Jurgis Anuss said he was alerted to an incident on a tram. A male passenger was reported to be aggressive to a ticket inspector at the Belgard stop at around 11.20pm on March 11.
Mr Anuss said the man was Mr Oloo-omee who appeared “slumped and drunk” before getting up and leaving the tram.
He advised Mr Oloo-omee to leave the area but he said the passenger adopted a fighting stance before heading off only to return a few minutes later.
The jury of five women and one man returned a verdict of death by misadventure.
They also recommended that all public lighting along the Luas network should be reviewed with local authorities with particular attention being given to “poorly lit” areas.
The victim had first come to Ireland from his native Nigeria as a teenager and was looking to start his own business.
Mr Oloo-omee described his older brother as “very loving and very attentive”.