Newly-qualified teacher killed in road accident

A WATERFORD woman in her 20s was killed in a road accident yesterday just one week after she graduated as a teacher.

Michele Maher from Collingan, Dungarvan, Co Waterford had just got a permanent teaching job in New Ross and was on her way to work when the accident occurred at Glenmore on the Waterford-New Ross road.

The driver of the lorry was taken to Waterford Regional Hospital suffering from shock and minor injuries. Diversions will be in place today as specialist equipment is drafted in to remove a crashed truck on the route.

Ms Maher died in the collision between the lorry and her car at 8.30am. The road was closed until 2pm as diesel from the truck spilled into the water at Glenmore.

Ms Maher was described as a lovely human being and an excellent teacher with fantastic potential by her former lecturers at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.