8 dead in week of carnage on roads
The latest fatality, a pedestrian killed after being hit by a lorry in Co Cork, brings to 186 the number of people killed on the country’s roads this year.
In that accident, the man in his 30s, named locally as Liam Curtin, was struck by the lorry on the Ringaskiddy Road at approximately 7am.
He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was taken to Cork University Hospital. The driver of the truck was not injured.
The road was closed so gardaí could examine the scene.
Togher gardaí have appealed for anyone with information about the accident to contact the station on 021-4947120.
Carrigaline priest Fr Charlie Nyhan yesterday comforted Mr Curtin’s parents, Billy and Mary, who live locally in Owenabue.
Liam Curtin, who is married, moved to Cloyne five years ago.
Fr Nyhan described the passing of the young man as a tragedy.
Local Fine Gael councillor John A Collins said Cork had been hit by several tragedies over Christmas, including a murder and two drug overdoses.
“Anytime is a bad time [to lose a loved one] but Christmas is awful. This death compounds the sadness.”
Mr Curtin was the 45th pedestrian to die on the roads this year and the fourth in the last week.
The rest of the 186 fatalities in 2011 are made up of 82 drivers, 33 passengers, 16 motorcyclists, 9 pedal cyclists and one pillion passenger.
