Woman becomes 270th road crash fatality this year

THE country's busiest route, the Belfast-Dublin road, claimed another traffic accident victim yesterday.

The death of a 23-year-old Newry, Co Down, woman brought to 270 the number of people killed on the roads this year.

The victim, travelling alone in the direction of Dublin, was involved in a collision just inside the Southern side of the border with a North-bound lorry and a jeep.

She died at the scene. Her name was withheld by gardaí until cross-border relatives were informed. The accident occurred shortly after 1pm about five miles north of Dundalk.

Two people travelling in the jeep were taken to hospital with suspected spinal injuries. Gardaí, however, said last night their respective conditions were not as serious as first thought. Their injuries are not life-threatening, an officer said.

The lorry driver was also admitted to hospital with leg injuries.

Gardaí in Dundalk are appealing for witnesses to the accident, which caused severe traffic disruption on the route. Diversions, which affected thousands of motorists, were in place for more than two hours.

The latest fatal accident stunned the border town, which is still reeling from the loss of three young people in a crash on the Belfast-Dublin motorway three weeks ago.

The victims, who worked in locals bars and restaurants, were Dublin-bound for a shopping trip when the accident occurred near Drogheda.

Meanwhile, a Co Kerry truck driver escaped without serious injury when his vehicle crossed the carriageway on the new Nenagh bypass in Co Tipperary and overturned after hitting a crash barrier. Latest traffic accident statistics show a total of 245 collisions leading to the deaths of 112 drivers among the 270 road fatalities. The 2002 figure, to-date, is slightly above last year's early September tally of 267.

Meanwhile, to highlight the horror of road crashes, the National Safety Council is to bring a Roadsafe Roadshow to Dublin. Produced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the theatrical-style show is designed in particular to target young people in a fresh attempt to drive home the message of unnecessary road crashes.