Woman dies after car collides with lorry

A woman in her 80s died in West Cork yesterday afternoon after her car collided with a lorry.

The accident happened on the main R586 Dunmanway to Bantry road at Clounties at about 3.20pm. The woman, who was the sole occupant of the car, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the recovery lorry was taken to Cork University Hospital with minor injuries. His passenger was uninjured.

Following the accident Garda forensic collision investigators were summoned to the scene and the road was closed off for a time with diversions put in place for the rush hour traffic.

Insp Colin Collins said the woman’s next of kin were being informed of the tragedy last night. Officers had spoken to a number of witnesses. He asked others who might have witnessed the accident to contact Clonakilty Garda Station on 023 8821570 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111.

Meanwhile, gardaí this morning begin Operation Slow Down, aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of speeding. From 7am this morning until 7am tomorrow, there will be highly visible speed checkpoints on national primary and secondary roads, carried out by local members of the gardaí and the traffic corps as well as GoSafe vans.

“The objectives of the operation are to raise awareness of the dangers of inappropriate and excessive speed, reduce the number of speed related collisions, and therefore save lives and reduce injuries on our roads,” said a Garda spokesman.