Man killed after bus crushes 4x4

TWO investigations were launched yesterday after a man was killed when a bus crashed and landed on top of his 4x4 at a notorious accident blackspot.

The victim’s partner, who was a front-seat passenger in the Toyota Landcruiser when the Bus Éireann bus came down on top of them in Co Meath, miraculously walked away from the scene with minor injuries, but is extremely traumatised.

The bus driver was on his way to Enfield to begin a daily early morning service to Dublin at about 6.30am when the bus struck a roundabout on the Kilcock side of the old N4 road, and apparently flew into the air, coming down on one side of the 4x4, before landing in a nearby field.

The 37-year-old driver of the Toyota, named locally as Cathal O’Leary, who had left his Glen Abhainn Park home in Enfield minutes before, was killed instantly. His body was taken to Naas General Hospital in Co Kildare for a postmortem examination.

The bus driver, a man in his 30s, was taken to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, west Dublin, suffering from shock. There were no passengers on the bus, which had undergone a routine independent assessment on February 10, according to Bus Éireann.

Both the Garda Siochána and Bus Éireann have launched investigations into the cause of the crash.

Investigating officer Supt John Dunleavy said: “The passenger is clearly traumatised and she’s bereaved at this stage. Our condolences, as indeed of all the people of Enfield, will go to her, her family and unfortunately to the family of the poor man who died in the crash.”

Nearby residents said there were several accidents at the same roundabout every year.

A Garda helicopter was summoned for aerial photographs of the scene this afternoon as investigating officers prepared to interview the bus driver.

A Bus Éireann spokesman said the company will be helping the Garda inquiry.

“Bus Éireann would like to extend its sympathies to the family and friends of the bereaved and wishes the other passenger of the vehicle a full and quick recovery,” he said. “We also wish our driver a quick and speedy recovery.”