Four die in accidents as Road Safety Week starts

FOUR people died and three others were injured in a series of road accidents in one eight-hour period over the weekend.

The first victim was a 74-year-old woman who died after the car in which she was travelling was involved in a collision with a bus.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene following the accident at Ballindown, Birr, Co Offaly, at 10.30pm on Saturday.

Fewer than two hours later, at a few minutes past midnight yesterday morning, two teenage boys were seriously injured, one fatally, when their car left the road at Dundevan, Kilcogy, Co Cavan.

The 18-year-old died at the scene while his 16-year- old companion was critically injured. No other vehicle was involved.

At 1.15am at Rathcoole, Co Dublin, a two-car crash claimed the life of a 22-year-old man who was rushed to Tallaght Hospital but later pronounced dead. His 25-year-old female passenger and the driver of the second car, a 28-year-old man, were injured and taken to hospital.

Another young man in his 20s lost his life when he was struck by a car while he was walking on the Waterford Road in Kilkenny shortly before 6am.

The victim was taken by ambulance to St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny but was pronounced dead a short time later. The names of the deceased were withheld so that relatives could be informed and will be formally released today.

Their deaths brought to 164 the number of people killed on Irish roads this year, 20 fewer than this time last year.

In relation to all four of the weekend accidents, gardaí are asking witnesses or anyone with information to assist in their investigations.

Anyone who can help should ring their local garda station or the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111.

The deaths occurred as the Road Safety Authority prepared for Irish Road Safety Week which starts today and runs until Sunday, with a series of awareness raising events taking place around the country.

The authority’s annual lecture, which is taking place in Dublin today, focuses on drug-driving, while other initiatives include a Beep Beep Day in which 1,400 pre-schools will hold special road safety classes aimed at the under-fives. A “Check it Fits” roadshow will offer free inspections of tyres, brakes, shocks, lights and wipers to motorists in Cork, Ennis, Castlebar, Letterkenny and Carrick-on-Shannon, while the “European Night Without Accident” will be observed on Saturday when young adult volunteers will encourage young people entering nightclubs to identify a designated driver for the night.