Two killed in head-on crash at major black spot

THE deaths of two people in a two-vehicle crash near Tralee early yesterday, brings to 10 the number of fatalities on Kerry roads already this year.

The dead were named last night as 35-year-old Carol Muir, Castlegregory, Co Kerry, originally from Motherwell, Scotland, and her partner, 50-year-old Chris Walsh, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, who was a back seat passenger.

Another Castlegregory man is still being treated at Tralee General Hospital for his injuries.

The accident happened when a Volkwagen Passat was in collision with a four-wheel drive jeep, at Tonevane Cross, two miles outside Tralee.

According to gardaí, the crash was almost head-on and occurred on a stretch of the Tralee/Dingle road which has been the scene of a number of accidents.

Both the deceased had formed a band called Scot’s Clan, based in the Castlegregory seaside area, and played regularly in pubs around Tralee.

A third band member, from Northumberland, was also in the car and he received serious injuries.

The trio were well known and popular in Castlegregory.

The car was coming from Tralee when the crash happened on a bend at 12.20am.

The driver of the jeep and a passenger, both understood to be from the Kerry area, received minor injuries.

A garda investigation into the crash, headed by Inspector Barry O’Rourke, Tralee, is continuing.