Cyclist dies in minibus collision

A cyclist was knocked down by a minibus and killed over the bank holiday weekend, bringing the death toll on Irish roads this year to 49 — 14 more than for the same period last year.

Gardaí appealed for witnesses yesterday after the fatal road traffic accident in Co Kerry.

The victim was cycling on the main Tralee to Killarney road when he was struck by a minibus at Kilcummin Cross at about 9.45pm on Sunday.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body removed to Tralee General Hospital.

The driver and sole occupant of the minibus was uninjured.

The road was closed until yesterday morning to facilitate an examination by Garda forensic collision investigators. Insp Fergal Patwell appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160.

Gardaí and the Road Safety Authority released statistics ahead of the bank holiday weekend showing that, of the 49 people who died on Irish roads this year, 29 were drivers, nine were pedestrians, five were passengers, three were motorcyclists, and three were cyclists.

Meanwhile, the search led by the Coast Guard for a man in his 60s, which had been under way off Ballybunion since March 7, was called off yesterday.