Gardaí seek witnesses to fatal crash

GARDAÍ are appealing for witnesses to a horrific crash which claimed the life of a 13-year-old boy from Co Cork.

Adam Connolly, a front-seat passenger in a car driven by his mother, Teresa, died after the vehicle collided with a lorry on a notorious stretch of road.

The accident happened at Farran Cross, on the main Cork-Macroom road shortly after 7.30pm on Wednesday.

Three units of the Cork City Fire Brigade and one unit from Ballincollig attended the scene and had to use cutting equipment to free the passengers from the car. They remained there for more than an hour.

Adam was pronounced dead at the scene. Miraculously, his mother and his seven-year-old brother, who was a back-seat passenger, were only treated for minor injuries and later discharged from hospital.

The truck driver was still being treated in Cork University Hospital yesterday. A Southern Health Board spokesman said he was in a comfortable condition.

Local parish priest Fr Paddy Keating said all the community’s thoughts and prayers were with the Connolly family who live at Inisfree, Currahally, Farran.

A garda spokesman said they were still investigating the cause of the tragic accident. He said both vehicles were traveling in the same direction, towards Macroom, when the collision occurred.

Anybody who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Macroom Gardaí at 026-20590.

Adam Connolly was the third person this week to die in accidents on Cork roads.

His death brought to 101 the number of people killed on Irish roads this year.