Kerry crash: Minister and staff escape car inferno but tourists seriously injured

MINISTER Eamon Ó Cuiv had a lucky escape yesterday when his car burst into flames after a crash near Killarney, Co Kerry.

The black ministerial Volvo was in a collision with a rented Opel car on the N71 mountain road to Kenmare, between Muckross House and Torc Waterfall, one of the country’s most popular tourist routes.

A middle-aged American couple in the Opel and the three people in the minister’s car were all taken by ambulance to Kerry General Hospital, Tralee.

A Southern Health Board spokesperson last night described the condition of the Americans as serious and the minister’s secretary was said to be comfortable.

However, Mr Ó Cuiv and his driver were both discharged from hospital last night.

The Volvo caught fire shortly after Mr Ó Cuiv, his secretary and their garda driver had evacuated it.

Mr Ó Cuiv suffered a hand fracture and bruising to his ribs, while the male driver of the Opel is believed to have broken a knee and an ankle.

Emergency services were at the scene soon after the accident occurred at around 2.40pm, four miles from Killarney.

Mr Ó Cuiv first sat in the back of a garda car.

He was able to walk, but had a laceration on his left arm and also suffered a broken finger.

Ambulance personnel treated him at the roadside, placing his arm in a sling, before he was taken to hospital.

Firemen had to use cutting equipment to free one of the two tourist passengers from the Opel, which was extensively damaged.

Asked by reporters if he was all right, an ashen-faced Mr Ó Cuiv replied he was, but agreed he was a bit shaken.

Gardaí and fire service personnel at the scene said the Opel appeared to have veered accidentally to its incorrect side of the road at a blind bend where the collision occurred.

Mr Ó Cuiv’s car was heading towards Bantry where he was due to officially launch a booklet, Caring Peninsulas, on behalf of the West Cork Public Partnership, at the West Lodge Hotel.

The Opel, occupied by a couple from St Louis, Missouri, USA, was travelling in the opposite direction towards Killarney.

The minister had earlier given a presentation on the RAPID programme for deprived urban areas, in Tralee, and had also received a deputation of fishermen from Ballydavid, Co Kerry.

Three ambulances and three units of the fire service were at the scene as well as a large group of gardaí. The road was closed for about an hour.