Elderly man dies as Bus Éireann coach and car collide

AN investigation continues today into a horrific collision involving a Bus Éireann coach that claimed the life of an elderly car driver yesterday.

The tragedy near Arklow in Co Wicklow was one of four fatal traffic accidents at the weekend.

Six of 25 passengers on the bus, the scheduled 4pm service from Dublin to Rosslare, suffered what gardaí described as “minor injuries”.

Major traffic delays resulted as the N11 between Wexford and Dublin was closed for more than three hours following the crash at Scarnagh, Arklow around 5pm. There were claims, made at the scene, that a northbound car pulled out of a line of traffic into the path of the coach.

Both the coach and VW Polo, in which the man died, ended up in a field. The man was the sole occupant of the car.

Superintendent John Roche said the injured bus passengers were ferried to hospitals in Loughlinstown, Co Dublin and Wexford. The name of the deceased was not released last night.

Supt Roche appealed to witnesses to assist gardaí in the investigation.

A fleet of ambulances and fire brigade crews from Arklow, Wicklow and Gorey attended the scene.

Meanwhile, two motorcyclists lost their lives in separate accidents. A 42-year-old died following a collision with a car at Rathattin, Hollywood, Co Wicklow around 12.40pm yesterday.

Meantime, the motorcyclist who died after hitting a pole at Nutgrove Way, Rathfarnham, at 9.15pm on Saturday was named as Robert Woods, in his mid-20s, of Meadow Park Avenue, Co Dublin.

A teenage girl, Caroline McGlanaghy from Drumrooske Estate, Donegal Town, died after a single vehicle accident at 4.10am yesterday, at Maas, Glenties.

The 19-year-old was a rear seat passenger in the car. Three other occupants escaped without serious injuries.