Woman 'lucky to be alive' after drink-drive crash
Caroline O'Callaghan (50) had been drinking at home when she made an "impulsive decision" to get behind the wheel of her car, Galway District Court heard.
O'Callaghan, with an address at 29 Slí Gheal, Knocknacarra, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on the Ballymoneen Road on May 2, 2025, and failing to provide a sample of urine or blood at University Hospital Galway.
Sergeant Joanne McGhee told the court that Gardaí responded to the single vehicle collision that occurred shortly after 9pm on the date in question.
The court heard a witness saw the accused's Audi A4 being driven in a dangerous manner.
Sgt McGhee said O'Callaghan was driving at speed when her car collided with a road side barrier, skidded across the road and narrowly avoided oncoming traffic.
The car ended up on its roof and an ambulance crew had to extract O'Callaghan from the vehicle.
She was brought to UHG for treatment.
Defence solicitor, Matthew Kenny, told the court that on the night, his client had been at home drinking and after an argument with her daughter "made an impulsive and poor decision" to get into her car.
Mr Kenny said thankfully no one else had been injured and his client accepted her decision making was poor on the night and continued to be poor in the hospital.
The court heard O'Callaghan no longer drove and was extremely remorseful.
Judge Fiona Lydon said the court required the accused to complete a number of courses and a report from the Probation Services in order for the court to better understand the background to the incident.
Judge Lydon said this was no indication as to how the case would ultimately be finalised and the court must ensure an incident like this did not happen again.
Judge Lydon told the accused she was lucky to be able to come to court at all and this was a "very serious roads traffic collision" that must have been "very concerning for other road users"
The case was adjourned to a later date.
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