Road death toll hits 39 in worst January since 2001

A MAN died following a crash in Co Wexford yesterday, bringing to 39 the number of people killed on the State’s roads so far this year.

The man was killed and his partner and her baby son injured after their Fiat Punto car collided with a tractor and trailer two miles north of the village of Oylegate on the N11 shortly after 2pm.

The dead man was named as Patrick Mernagh, 25, of Ross Road, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. His partner Tracey Tyrell, 21, of Shannon, Enniscorthy, and her five-month-old son Dylan were heading in the direction of Enniscorthy when the accident occurred on a straight stretch of road.

Two fire brigades, ambulance crews and gardaí were quickly on the scene but Mr Mernagh was pronounced dead a short time later. Ms Tyrell and her son were taken to Wexford General Hospital.

Ms Tyrell’s injuries are not life-threatening, however her son’s condition was said to be serious last night.

The tractor and trailer, driven by James O’Connor of Whitestown, Piercestown, Co Wexford, was heading in the Oylegate direction. Road conditions were good at the time. Mr O’Connor was not injured.

The N11 remained closed for a time yesterday.

This has been the worst January for road deaths in five years.

To the end of January last year, a total of 31 people had died on Irish roads.

Earlier yesterday, gardaí named a 20-year-old woman who died when the car which she was driving crashed into a lamp post on the M1 near Dundalk on Monday. Nicola Sheridan from Sliabh Breagh, Ardee, Co Louth, died in the crash near Majors Hollow, Dundalk, just before 8.30am. No other vehicles were involved in that accident.

Meanwhile, an 89-year-old woman has died following a car crash in Co Donegal last week.

Anne Wright from Molville in Donegal was a passenger in a car which was involved in a single vehicle accident last Wednesday at Carrow Naffe in Molville.