Student nurse killed in head-on crash

A YOUNG student nurse who was on her way to work was killed close to her home yesterday morning in a head-on collision with a cement truck.

Siobhán Holland, 20, from Kilbonane, Aherla, Co Cork, had left her family home to begin her second week of placement at Cork University Hospital (CUH) when the accident happened at about 7.20am near Ballincollig, on the main N22 Cork Killarney road.

She was the sixth person to die on Irish roads in the last week and her death brought to 56 the number of people killed on the roads so far this year.

Ms Holland, who was in her first year of a BSc General Nursing degree in University College Cork, was the sole occupant of a Fiat Punto. The cement mixer was travelling in the opposite direction when the vehicles collided at Casey’s Cross, in Ovens.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene and had to use cutting equipment to free her body from the car.

She had suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body was removed to CUH for a post mortem.

The driver of the truck was also taken to CUH where his condition was last night described as stable.

Prof Geraldine McCarthy, the head of UCC’s School of Nursing, said staff and students were shocked and upset by the tragedy.

“We would like to offer our condolences to Siobhán’s family and to her wide circle of friends,” she said. Ms Holland was remembered in a special ceremony at the nursing school yesterday. Her devastated classmates were also given details of a helpline.

Gardaí closed the N22 around the crash site for several hours and diversions were put in place until lunchtime as garda accident experts and crime investigators carried out a detailed examination of the crash scene.

Superintendent Tom Hayes said the cause of the accident was under investigation. He appealed for witnesses to contact gardaí at Ballincollig garda station on telephone: [phone].

Siobhán is survived by her parents Tim and Jennifer and by her brothers Sean and Cian and sister Muireann.

Rosary will take place in the family home this evening at 8.30pm. Removal tomorrow at 8pm to St Joseph’s church, Cloghduv, with the burial taking place after 12 noon requiem Mass on Thursday.

Road deaths

56 people have died on Irish roads so far this year. This compares with 75 for the same period last year. 24 people died in road accidents in January 27 people died in road accidents in February.