Eight-year-old girl dies in West Cork crash

An eight-year-old girl died and her mother was last night fighting for her life in hospital following a horrific crash in West Cork yesterday afternoon.

The two-car smash happened at a notorious accident blackspot at Owenahincha Cross, Rosscarbery at about 3pm.

One of the cars, a small silver Audi, appeared to have been knocked off the road by the impact of the collision and down a ditch, where it lay in heavy undergrowth.

The other, a cream Nissan Primera, remained on the roadway following the crash.

Gardaí confirmed that the girl, who was travelling in the Primera, died at the scene. Her body was taken to Cork University Hospital.

Her mother, a woman in her early 30s, was rushed by Air Corps helicopter to Cork University Hospital with what gardaí described as critical injuries. The driver of the car and three other passengers received minor injuries.

The 17-year-old driver of the other car, who was the sole occupant of his vehicle, also escaped with minor injuries. The scene of the crash was closed for a number of hours while gardaí carried out a full forensic investigation.

Gardaí appealed to anyone who might have been in the area at the time of the accident to contact Clonakilty Garda station on 023-8821 570.

The family of the deceased girl are understood to be from Limerick and were on holiday when the accident happened.

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Christopher O’Sullivan said there had been repeated calls from councillors to the National Roads Authority to do something about the stretch of road between Bohanagh and Owenahincha Cross, as it had been the scene of a number of serious crashes in recent years.

“It is vitally important that this section of road is upgraded as soon as possible before there are any other fatalities,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

“I would like to offer my sympathies to the family of the deceased young girl.”

Last year, a 64-year-old woman, Sheila McDonald, died after the car in which she was travelling collided with an articulated lorry on the Clonakilty to Rosscarbery road at Bohanagh, not far from Owenahincha Cross.