Story of Matthew Broderick's Fatal Car Incident in Ireland: 'Ferris Bueller' Star Caused Deadly Crash That Claimed Lives of Two Women
In the summer of 1987, a tragic car accident occurred in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland. Matthew Broderick, a rising Hollywood star known for his roles in films like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, was behind the wheel of a rented BMW.
On August 5, around 3 p.m., under a sunny afternoon sky, Broderick suddenly swerved into oncoming traffic, resulting in a collision with a Volvo. The accident claimed the lives of two women: Anna Gallagher (28 years old) and Margaret Doherty (63 years old), who were part of the Doherty family.
The family of the victims viewed the legal outcome as a "travesty of justice," feeling that Broderick received a lenient punishment likely influenced by his celebrity status. Broderick was charged with careless driving—a lesser offense than dangerous driving—and fined $175, avoiding jail time which could have been up to five years.
Jennifer Grey, Broderick's partner at the time, was in the car and was relatively uninjured but covered in Broderick's blood. Grey considered the car accident to be one of the "top three traumas of [her] life."
In the days following the crash, Broderick wrote a note to the Doherty family expressing his remorse. However, no sustained contact occurred, although the family publicly forgave him years later. It was reported that Broderick planned to meet with the victims' family for closure, but it is unclear if such a meeting ever took place.
The accident left a lasting emotional impact on the victims' family with limited closure achieved. Matthew Broderick, on the other hand, struggled in the years following the car accident and sought professional help to cope.
Despite the tragic incident, Broderick continued his acting career, starring in films like Godzilla and The Producers. Jennifer Grey, who was about to star in Dirty Dancing at the time of the accident, went on to win an Emmy Award for her role in the TV series Dirty Dancing: The Television Movie.
In 2002, Martin Doherty, who lost his mother and sister in the crash, publicly forgave Broderick, stating, "I've learned to let go of the past and move on." This marked a significant step towards healing for both parties.
- The accident involving Matthew Broderick in 1987, though overshadowed by his entertainment career, proved to be a significant event in the realm of crime-and-justice, as Broderick was charged with careless driving, a charge that raised questions about the influence of celebrity status on legal outcomes.
- The car accident that claimed the lives of Anna Gallagher and Margaret Doherty in 1987 was not just a general-news story, but also a source of deep trauma for the Doherty family, who felt a sense of injustice due to the lenient punishment given to Broderick.
- In the aftermath of the tragic car accident in 1987, Matthew Broderick, despite facing criticism and emotional turmoil, resumed his career in entertainment, starring in films like Godzilla and The Producers, while his partner, Jennifer Grey, who was also involved in the crash, found success in her career, winning an Emmy Award for her role in Dirty Dancing: The Television Movie.
