Doctor spared prison after daughter's death in crash caused by tire defect

A doctor has avoided prison after a court heard a "catastrophic" tire defect triggered a crash that fatally injured his six-year-old daughter on her birthday. Babak Meshkat, 46, was charged following an investigation into the February 8th, 2024, incident on the M6 motorway in Co. Westmeath.

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There is no sentence of this court that can act as a greater punishment than the daily pain and suffering that Mr Meshkat now endures.

Hana Meshkat, the doctor's daughter, had been unbuckled in the back seat for only a minute before the car lost control. Her father was driving in excess of the speed limit to Dublin Airport to pick up her grandparents, who were visiting for Hana's surprise birthday celebration. Tragically, Hana died nine days after the crash at Children's Health Ireland hospital due to severe head injuries.

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There is no sentence of this court that can act as a greater deterrence against acts of unsafe driving and the horror of the circumstances of this case, now known to have been caused by a combination of factors.

Meshkat pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death, a lesser charge than dangerous driving causing death. He was fined €5,000 and banned from driving for 12 months. Judge Cephas Power stated that no sentence could be a greater punishment than Meshkat's daily suffering and that the case served as a stark warning against unsafe driving.

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And third, and to a much lesser extent, the speed at which the car was driving.

The judge noted that the crash resulted from a combination of factors: a "latent defect" in the BMW's rear tire leading to catastrophic failure, the child being unsecured, and, to a lesser extent, the speed of the vehicle. Meshkat, who has no prior convictions, cooperated with the investigation and has been experiencing severe grief, including post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation.

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All of those factors led to the death of one so loved by her parents and everyone who knew her.