Investigation begins into fatal collision

GARDAÍ have launched an investigation into the death of a 59-year-old man who was killed after the car he was driving collided with a lorry.

Arthur O’Connor became the fifth person to lose his life on Irish roads this year. He died in hospital on Wednesday night, just hours after the collision, which occurred at Carr’s Hill on the main Cork-Carrigaline road. Mr O’Connor, a married father, was from Rafeen Hill, Monkstown, Co Cork.

Gardaí have named the lorry driver who died on the same day in a separate accident at Granard, Co Longford.

Arvydaf Bruzas, a Lithuanian living in Oldcastle, Co Meath, died after his lorry overturned. Mr Bruzas was in his 30s.

A day earlier two other people lost their lives. James Grelish, a 73-year-old pedestrian died when he was knocked down at Aranmore, Co Galway, and soldier John Granville, aged 46, died when his car was involved in a head-on collision with a lorry near Rathcormac, Co Cork.

The first life claimed in 2006 was on January 2 when John Flahive, aged 33, from Ballyheigue, was killed in a crash in Ardfert, Co Kerry.

Gardaí say if the current trend continues, the total number killed on Irish roads in 2006 could surpass last year’s 399.

Meanwhile, gardaí in Cork are searching for two young men who rammed their stolen Honda Civic into an unmarked garda car which was on routine patrol at Cork Prison.

A detective and a female sergeant escaped serious injury as the patrol car was extensively damaged.

They had noticed the men acting suspiciously and were set to respond when their car was rammed.

The incident occurred at around 4pm last Wednesday and the stolen car sped from the scene in the direction of Mayfield.

Gardaí are appealing for anybody who may have seen the black Honda Civic, registration 92 C 19464 to contact Mayfield Garda Station at 021-4501498 or Anglesea Street Garda Station at 021-4522001.