Man who ‘danced with traffic’ hit by two rush-hour cars

A LITHUANIAN man is recovering in hospital after being struck by two cars as he “danced with traffic” on a busy road in Cork.

And a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions after a hit-and-run incident on the city’s northside.

Gardaí received 999 calls from astonished motorists at about 7am yesterday who observed the Lithuanian man acting erratically on the main road near Cork Airport.

Callers described the 26-year-old man as dancing in and out of traffic.

Seconds later, on the airport side of the Bull McCabe’s pub, the man was struck by a car travelling towards the airport.

“After hitting that vehicle he was blown across the road and hit by another car which was travelling in the direction of the city,” a Garda spokesman said.

Gardaí and emergency services were quickly on the scene. The injured man, who is believed to be living in Grange, Douglas, was taken by Health Service Executive ambulance to Cork University Hospital. A hospital spokesman said that despite being hit by two cars he was in a stable condition.

The accident happened during rush-hour and long tailbacks ensued.

Gardaí were forced to put in traffic diversions and sealed off the road as Garda technical experts examined the scene.

They interviewed drivers, but have appealed to anybody who witnessed the incident and who has not come forward to contact them.

Anybody with information is asked to contact either Anglesea Street Garda Station at 021-4522000, or Togher Garda Station at 021-4947120.

Meanwhile, gardaí in Mayfield are preparing a file after a hit-and-run incident in the Glen area on Tuesday afternoon.

A man in his 20s who was working with a road repair crew was struck by a vehicle which failed to stop at the scene at about 2.30pm.

The injured man, who was operating a stop-go sign in the area, was rushed to Cork University Hospital, but he discharged himself a few hours later.

A 19-year-old man, accompanied by his mother, subsequently presented himself to Mayfield Garda Station. He was interviewed for about an hour in connection with the incident. A car has been forensically examined.

A file on the incident will be prepared and forwarded to the DPP.