Foreman in crossroads crash blames sat nav instructions for failure to stop
A site foreman who failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with another car did not know the area and was "following instructions on his sat nav", a court heard.
Valerii Burduja (34) left the driver of the other vehicle with significant injuries, and he needed a hip replacement.
The victim's four-year-old daughter was in the back of the car, and while she was upset, she was uninjured in the crash.
Judge Stephanie Coggans fined Burduja €500, but did not ban him from driving, after the victim said he accepted the driving was careless.
The defendant, with an address at Ringfort Avenue in Balrothery, admitted careless driving.
Burduja was originally charged with dangerous driving but the judge accepted a plea to the lesser charge of careless driving, which does not carry an automatic driving ban.
Garda Robert O'Rourke told Balbriggan District Court that gardai were called to the scene of a traffic accident at the crossroads of the R108 and Nags Head shortly after 11am on October 6, 2024.
Gda O'Rourke said there was significant damage to a blue Jetta and a black Audi, which was just off the road at the junction.
Gda O'Rourke said the Jetta had been travelling from Ballyboughal towards Naul, on the main road, when the Audi, which was coming from Garristown, failed to stop at a stop sign, and the two cars had collided.
Gda O'Rourke said the victim was taken to Beaumont Hospital, while his young daughter, who was in the back of the car, was taken to Temple Street Children's Hospital.
She was uninjured, and the driver said he experienced soft tissue injuries and subsequently needed a hip replacement in November.
Gda O'Rourke said the accused did not know the area. He informed gardai that he had been following instructions on a sat nav, which had told him to proceed ahead.
Gda O'Rourke said Burduja was not over the speed limit, but may have been driving too fast for the junction.
He has no previous convictions and has never been in trouble before.
Defence lawyer Martin Dully said Burduja was working as a foreman supervising building sites, and needed his licence to work.
Mr Dully said Burduja, who was a family man, cooperated fully with gardai. On the day, Burduja became confused, and he was following sat nav instructions.
Burduja had a full driving licence and was fully insured, the court heard.
The victim said he accepted Burduja's driving was careless, and he was happy for the court not to disqualify him.