Grieving son 'can't remember' fatal Frosses Road collision

20-year-old Robert Watson was speaking at Coleraine Courthouse on Wednesday of last week during an Inquest into the death of father-of-four Robert Samuel Watson of Loughabin Road near Dunloy who was 47 years old when he died at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine in the early hours of May 24, 2009.

The collision occurred after 11.30pm on May 23 when Mr Watson left home on an errand.

Robert Watson did not give evidence during the Inquest but did tell Coroner John Leckey: "I remember nothing about the accident, just what people tell me."

The Inquest heard that the Peugeot car being driven by Robert Watson had been driving southwards along the Frosses Road and after going into the turn-off for Dunloy to go into the Station Road was driven across the path of an oncoming Alfa Romeo car.

The Inquest was told the Public Prosecution Service said there was evidence of an offence of careless driving causing death but because of the circumstances of the case involving the "driver killing his father" it was decided not to prosecute.

The driver of the other car, David Downes from Ballymoney, told police he was driving at 60mph on his way home from work when the other vehicle "pulled out, without warning" into the path of his vehicle.

When interviewed by police Robert Watson jnr said he remembered leaving the house with his father to pick up a vehicle but could not remember the collision but did mention that the grass verge was long.

Robert Watson jnr had no insurance to drive the vehicle which was owned by another man.

Senior Scientific Officer George Johnston said the collision was a consequence of Robert Watson jnr driving onto the side of the road the Alfa Romeo was on.

Mr Johnston said that after the collision it was established that the handbrake in the car driven by Mr Watson jnr was up and he said it was a possibility that either the driver of the deceased pulled it up in an attempt to stop the car.

Mr Johnston said it was possible the length of grass at the junction partly obstructed Robert Watson jnr's view but he said the headlights of the Alfa Romeo should have been evident from at least 80 metres away.

Mr Johnston said the only explanation he could offer for the collision was "momentary inattention" from the driver whose view was either temporarily blocked by grass or by the position of the passenger in the car or a part of the car.

Mr Watson's former partner, Rosemary Agnes Watson, said when he left home with her son he had been in good spirits.

She said how she "felt very lost" since his passing which has left "a large gap in my life".

Coroner Mr Leckey recorded that Mr Watson died at the Causeway Hospital, Coleraine, as a result of multiple injuries sustained when a Peugeot car driven by his son, in which he was a front seat passenger, was in collision with an Alfa Romeo Spider car.

He said the Peugeot car travelled into the path of the approaching vehicle.

Mr Leckey extended sympathy to the Watson family.