11 killed on roads in last week

A total of 11 people lost their lives on Irish roads in the last week, it emerged today.

The National Safety Council said the number of people killed so far this year had now reached 53, an increase of five on the number of fatalities in the same period last year.

Almost half of those killed in 2006 were drivers, while 15 were pedestrians, 10 were passengers and a single cyclist and motorcyclist also died on the roads.

The statistics emerged as gardai named a 73-year-old woman who died following a collision on the Dublin to Trim road yesterday as Margaret Kelly from Draiocht, Athboy, Co Meath.

The number of people who have lost their lives in road accidents this year is on course to exceed the 400 who died last year, which was the highest death toll since 2001.