Man, 66, missing from care home dies in road accident in Galway

A pensioner killed in a road accident in which two gardaí were also injured had been missing from a nursing home.

The 66-year-old man died after being struck by a car on the N18 main Galway to Limerick road about 2km north of Ardrahan.

Gardaí said the crash happened at about 12.30am.

Parallel investigations were launched by the traffic corps and the Garda Ombudsman’s office (GSOC), with the watchdog closing their inquiry by late afternoon after determining policing issues or misconduct were not an issue.

A superintendent had referred the case to the independent investigators — a routine decision when a Garda vehicle is involved in a road accident.

“GSOC has now examined the circumstances of the fatal incident which occurred near Gort, Co Galway, this morning and has identified no Garda misconduct. The Garda Síochána investigation continues,” a spokeswoman said.

It is understood the dead man had left a local nursing earlier home on Sunday night and had been reported missing.

The two gardaí injured in the accident had stopped their vehicle on the main road after spotting the man and were making efforts to assist him when the accident occurred.

The Garda press office said the officers were taken to University Hospital Galway but their injuries were not life-threatening.

A man aged in his 40s, who had been driving the second car involved in the accident, was arrested at the scene and taken to Gort Garda Station. He was later released.

The N18 was closed for several hours after the crash and later reopened.

Two Garda Ombudsman investigators were dispatched to the scene in the middle of the night and spent several hours on site.

Garda forensic collision investigators were also examining the road to establish the cause of the crash.

Appeals were made for any witnesses or people with information to contact Gort Garda station on 091 636400 or to use the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or to contact any Garda station.