A Dublin coroner has recorded an open verdict after an 84-year-old woman died when her car travelled at an estimated 165km/h before crashing into several vehicles in Rathfarnham. The fatal collision happened on Hillside Drive on September 11th, 2024, but the findings were delivered at an inquest in Dublin on September 21st, 2026.
What happened in the Rathfarnham crash?
Elizabeth Veitch Smyth, from Taney Rise in Dundrum, was driving a green Kia Niro when it collided with a box van before continuing along Hillside Drive. The vehicle then struck an Audi Q7, a Volkswagen Passat, a Volkswagen ID4 and a parked BMW.
The force of the impact overturned the Audi, which also hit an electricity pole. Emergency services were contacted immediately after the crash, but Ms Veitch Smyth suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The case has become a significant item in Breaking News Ireland because the inquest could not establish whether the collision resulted from a medical episode, a loss of control or another cause.
Inquest hears car was travelling at 165km/h
Stephen Noonan, who was driving the box van, told the inquest that he saw the Kia approaching at considerable speed. He said the car was partly on his side of the road, prompting him to move left before the Kia struck the rear section of his vehicle.
Mr Noonan initially estimated the speed at about 160km/h based on his experience as a commercial driver. Garda forensic collision examiners later assessed the Kia’s speed at approximately 165km/h.
Another witness, building worker Rob Miller, described the vehicle as travelling at “astronomical speed”. He said debris from the collision struck his Honda, while the Kia appeared to rebound between other vehicles before coming to a stop.
Video evidence examined by Gardaí
Garda forensic officers reviewed footage from cameras mounted on the front and rear of the box van. Their evidence indicated that the first impact occurred at approximately 10.34am.
After that collision, the Kia travelled 57.7 metres in 1.29 seconds before hitting the Audi. Investigators told the inquest that the road was dry, the weather was clear and there was no visible defect or distortion in the road surface that could explain the crash.
The footage also showed Ms Veitch Smyth apparently slumped over the steering wheel shortly before the collision. That detail became central to the coroner’s consideration of whether an unforeseen medical event may have occurred.
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Vehicle examination found no mechanical defect
The Kia was examined by Gardaí after the crash. The technical inspection did not identify defects in the vehicle’s braking or acceleration systems.
That finding ruled out an obvious mechanical failure, but it did not resolve why the car was travelling so quickly or why its driver appeared to be slumped at the wheel. The evidence left several possible explanations open without confirming any one of them.
Cause of death confirmed by postmortem
The postmortem found that Ms Veitch Smyth died from hypovolemic shock caused by significant blood loss from an extensive scalp injury sustained in the road traffic collision.
However, the examination found no evidence of an acute medical incident that had immediately preceded the crash. Dublin District Coroner Clare Keane said that did not definitively exclude such an event, as some medical episodes may not leave identifiable signs during a postmortem examination.
Why was an open verdict recorded?
An open verdict is used when the available evidence does not allow a coroner to reach a more specific conclusion about the circumstances surrounding a death. In this case, the evidence established the fatal injuries and the sequence of impacts, but not what caused the driver to lose control.
Coroner Clare Keane said it was “simply not clear” what had happened before the Kia began travelling at extreme speed. She therefore concluded that an open verdict was appropriate.
The coroner expressed sympathy to Ms Veitch Smyth’s family, describing their loss as shocking and devastating.
What the evidence establishes
- The crash occurred on Hillside Drive, Rathfarnham, on September 11th, 2024.
- The Kia Niro was travelling at an estimated 165km/h before the sequence of impacts.
- The car struck a box van and four other vehicles.
- An Audi Q7 was overturned and hit an electricity pole.
- Gardaí found no defect in the Kia’s braking or acceleration systems.
- Video footage showed the driver slumped over the wheel shortly before the crash.
- The coroner recorded an open verdict because the precise cause remained uncertain.
What happens next?
The inquest has now concluded with the open verdict. The finding does not assign blame or establish that a specific medical condition caused the collision. It records that the available evidence was insufficient to determine the circumstances fully.
For motorists and families, the case highlights the difficulty of determining what happens in a fast-moving collision when a driver may become incapacitated without a clear postmortem explanation. It also demonstrates the importance of vehicle data, witness accounts and video footage in Garda collision investigations.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the fatal crash happen?
The collision happened on Hillside Drive in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.
How fast was the car travelling?
Garda forensic collision examiners estimated that the Kia was travelling at approximately 165km/h.
What verdict did the coroner record?
Dublin District Coroner Clare Keane recorded an open verdict because it was not possible to establish exactly what caused the crash.
Was a mechanical fault found?
No. A technical examination found no defects in the Kia’s braking or acceleration systems.
Conclusion
This Breaking News Ireland case remains defined by uncertainty: investigators established the vehicle’s speed, the chain of impacts and the fatal injuries, but could not determine what happened to the driver immediately before the crash. The open verdict reflects that evidential gap while bringing the inquest into the death of Elizabeth Veitch Smyth to a close.
