Three die in single-car Christmas road accidents

THE Christmas holiday period has been marked by a series of single-vehicle collisions that have claimed the lives of three young men in separate accidents.

The festive season deaths brought the total number of people killed on roads in the Republic so far this year to 363.

The first road traffic accident victim was a 27-year-old man involved in a collision in the early hours of Christmas Eve near Naas, Co Kildare.

The victim, who was named yesterday as Brian Ferris of The Gables, Kill, Co Kildare, was a passenger in a car which collided with a wall at Kingsfurz, Tipper Road North, in Naas, about 3.50am last Sunday.

The driver was brought by emergency services to Naas General Hospital where his injuries were described as non-life threatening.

No other vehicle was involved in the crash.

On Christmas Day, a 34-year-old male driver was fatally injured when his car went out of control and struck a tree on the main Wexford-Rosslare Harbour road at 2.30am. The incident took place at Churchtown, Kilrane, Rosslare, Co Wexford.

The victim was alone in the car at the time of the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene.

He was later named as Stephen Clampett of Greenore Park, Rosslare Harbour, Co Wexford.

A short time later on Christmas Day, another lone male driver was killed in another single vehicle accident in Co Westmeath.

A 24-year-old motorist died after his car struck a tree at Ballinderry, Mullingar, at 3.50am.

He was named as Massimo Lingi of Belvedere Hills, Mullingar.

It is understood that Mr Lingi’s partner arrived at the scene where his blue Audi A3 was wrapped around the tree as he was being cut from the wreckage.

The victim, who was a chip shop owner and father of one, was pronounced dead a short time later at the Longford/Westmeath General Hospital.

Local gardaí, who have appealed for witnesses to the fatal collision to come forward, described the crash as one of the worst in the region.

Gardaí have also named two women who died in separate road accidents last week.

The woman involved in a fatal collision in Kilrush, Co Clare, on December 18 was identified as 75-year-old Eileen O’Brien from Carnacalla, Co Clare.

Gardaí also named the woman who died in another crash in Wexford on the same day as Eileen Lacey, aged 51, from Ballytarsna, Oulart, Gorey, Co Wexford.

The series of accidents occurred after special Christmas messages pleading for extra care by motorists on the roads over the holiday period were issued by the President, Mary McAleese, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the chairman of the Road Safety Authority, Gay Byrne.

In her Christmas message, President McAleese said one of the most important gifts people could give each other during the holiday period was “the gift of care on our roads”.

“Our care costs us nothing. Our carelessness costs others everything, their lives, their health, their happiness,” said Ms McAleese.

Similar sentiments have been expressed in recent days by both Mr Ahern and the veteran broadcaster, Gay Byrne, who both called on road users to take personal responsibility for their actions.

The Road Safety Authority chairman warned that young motorists would face a major clampdown in the new year because of their dangerous driving habits.

“The most dangerous drivers of cars on the road are 19 to 26-year-old-males and that’s the same worldwide. They have more serious and more fatal collisions than anyone else. It is a worldwide phenomenon that is a disease in itself.”

“The most amazing thing about these young drivers is they see all the safety messages and hear all the advice but they do not connect it with themselves for some reason,” said Mr Byrne.

The total number of road deaths in 2006 is likely to record a decrease on last year’s figures when 396 people were killed — the highest level since 2001.