Three killed in crashes

Three young men have died in two separate overnight road crashes, it emerged today.

The latest fatalities bring the provisional 2004 death toll in the Republic to 382 people, a 14% increase in deaths on the 335 total for last year.

In the latest fatalities, two men in their late teens were killed when the van they were travelling in hit a tree at Glenfarne, Co Sligo at around 5am.

The driver of the van and another passenger were injured and taken to Sligo General Hospital. A hospital spokesperson said the driver was in a serious condition.

Earlier this morning a 26-year-old man died following a road crash in Co Kildare.

A Garda spokesman said the man, who was travelling alone, died after his car hit a tree on the Broadford to Edenderry road at 3am.

No other vehicle was involved.