Irish man dies in Perth motor accident

AUSTRALIAN police were investigating a car crash yesterday that killed a young man from Co Meath and left a young woman fighting for her life.

Police in Perth confirmed at least five Irish people were injured in the two-vehicle collision.

The crash happened at about 11.10pm Australian time on Wednesday night.

Seven people, including the five Irish, were in a Toyota Corolla hatchback, which was driving along Broun Avenue in the suburb of Bedford.

The five-seater car lost control and veered across the central median strip before colliding with a Toyota Carina.

Both vehicles were travelling in opposite directions.

The crash forced the packed white Toyota Corolla to roll over before it eventually came to a rest on its roof.

Scores of emergency services attended the scene.

A 20-year-old man from Slane, Co Meath, named locally as Colm Reilly who was living in Bedford, died at the scene of the crash. He was the front-seat passenger in the car.

Four other Irish people, three women and a man, aged between 19 and 25, are being treated for serious injuries following the crash.

One of the women, who is 20, and from Kentstown, Co Meath, was one of the four rear passengers. She was described as having serious head injuries and thought to be in a critical condition. Her family have flown to Australia to be by her bedside.

The driver of the hatchback, a 25-year-old man, was also taken to hospital.

The driver of the other vehicle, a 63-year-old woman, is recovering with minor injuries.

It was believed yesterday that the Irish occupants of the Toyota Corolla hatchback were tourists.

One local close to one of the families said they had been on a “holiday of a lifetime” when the crash occurred.

The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the family of the deceased man had been contacted.

Consular assistance was also being provided for the repatriation of his remains, which his family are expected to fly over to Australia to bring home.