Man killed in A5 crash ‘suffered heart episode caused by excessive cocaine use’

Caolan Devlin, the brother of Tyrone GAA football player Niall Devlin, was confirmed to have died as a result of "blunt force trauma" and "multiple injuries" in the accident last year.

On the dry though dark evening on March 5, 2024, Mr Devlin suffered from a cardiac arrhythmia -- or irregular heartbeat -- while at the wheel of his white BMW car, according to coroner John McCrisken.

The court heard how the former Naomh Colmcille hurler had cocaine in his system before his death, which was believed to have caused his irregular heartbeat while driving along the A5 in Co Tyrone, a common symptom with the drug.

The cardiac incident then caused the young motorist to swerve into traffic on the other side of the road. This resulted in a two-vehicle collision with an oncoming HGV. Passers-by then came to the aid of the 30-year-old, who died at the scene.

Witnesses driving behind the lorry at the time of the crash noted "there was debris falling from the sky" upon collision.

Emergency services were called to the scene, where they had some difficulty in getting Mr Devlin out of his car, which was under the front of the lorry.

No mechanical faults were found with the lorry upon police investigation.

No faults were found with the road.

Cocaine was believed to have been taken "a few hours" before he got behind the wheel. Mr Devlin also had a blood alcohol content of 40mg, below the legal limit, which is 80.

However, the coroner noted how the concoction of drugs only makes cocaine more "dangerous".

The coroner told Mr Devlin's parents Gerard and Margaret that "pathologists rarely use the word instant", to describe a death. However, despite this, the passing was believed to be quick.

The 30-year-old's father, Gerard Devlin, said it was a "small solace".

The coroner stated he was "satisfied" that the damage to the heart was caused by the use of cocaine, which then caused the crash.

"In terms of the cause of the collision I am satisfied that while behind the wheel of his vehicle Mr Devlin suffered some sort of cardiac arrhythmia caused by excessive use of cocaine," said the coroner.

"In terms of previous medical history, Mr Devlin had been treated for anxiety and depression.

"He was not being prescribed any medications at the time of his death.

It was reported that he abused cocaine.

"On 5 March 2024 at approximately 5.30pm Mr Devlin left his family home. His father thought that he appeared agitated.

"He was driving his BMW vehicle. He did not tell his family where he was going.

"Later that evening as Mr Devlin was driving along the A5 in the direction of Omagh his vehicle veered out of the lane he was travelling in and struck the front of a heavy goods vehicle, head-on.

"The emergency services were contacted and police officers, an ambulance, and fire service appliances arrived shortly after.

"Mr Devlin was found in the driver's seat of the BMW, which was positioned beneath the cab of the heavy goods vehicle.

He was cut from the vehicle by fire service personnel.

"He was not responsive and he was pronounced deceased at 7.53pm. Police discovered that he had been wearing his seatbelt and the airbags had deployed.

"A post-mortem examination concluded that Mr Devlin had sustained multiple severe injuries as a result of the collision. There were extensive fractures to the facial bones and disarticulation of the skull from the spine.

"In the opinion of the forensic pathologist, who performed the post-mortem examination, these injuries alone would have accounted for Mr Devlin's rapid death," the coroner added.

"There were also severe injuries to the chest including transection of the spine.

There were lacerations to the liver, spleen and bowel.

"The post-mortem examination also revealed possible early degeneration of the heart muscle.

"I was told at inquest that such myocardial necrosis can be caused by certain drugs including cocaine.

"The presence of cocaine in the blood sample indicated recent usage prior to death.

"The pathologist told the inquest that cocaine can precipitate collapse and or death commonly from a disturbance in the heart rhythm or seizure," noted the coroner.

The stretch of road from Londonderry to Aughnacloy has been subject to controversy in the past, with over 57 people having lost their lives on the road since 2006.

However, legal challenges have delayed an upgrade, with farmers, landowners and environmentalists arguing that the construction of the carriageway contradicts Stormont's own rules on climate change.

Earlier this month, protestors from the pro-carriageway group Enough is Enough demonstrated outside Belfast High Court. Among them was the brother of Mr Devlin, Co Tyrone GAA player, Niall Devlin.

The well-known sportsman was an advocate for upgrading the busy road.

Speaking at the protest against the legal bid to stop the A5 work, Niall said: "Caolan tragically lost his life on March 5, 2024, on the A5 road. So, it is a tough time for us all.

It has been a long time coming, the road.

"You only have to look at some of the families and the support here to see that the road should definitely be built."