Four lose their lives in three separate collisions as road death figures continue to soar
Garda technical officers at the scene of the fatal accident in North Donegal where two young people lost their licves. Picture: newspix
Four people lost their lives in three separate collisions on Irish roads on Monday, as road death figures continue to soar.
The four fatalities bring the total number of deaths to 165 so far this year - an increase of 39 when compared to the same period in 2022.
The figure for 2023 has surpassed the total number of deaths for the whole of last year, which was 155.
In Monaghan, a man, aged in his 40s, was killed following a collision involving two lorries.
The incident occurred shortly before 4pm yesterday afternoon on the R188 near Cootehill.
The driver of one of the lorries involved was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the other lorry was uninjured.
Part of the R188 in between Cootehill and Rockcorry is currently closed and is expected to remain closed overnight and into Tuesday morning.
The services of forensic collision investigators have been requested, and local diversions are in place.
Gardaí are now appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward.
In a statement, a Garda spokesperson said: "Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the R188 in between Cootehill and Rockcorry between 3.45pm and 4.15pm are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí."
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Carrickmacross Garda station on 042 969 0190, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
Elsewhere, a cyclist died following a collision between a truck and an e-bike in Dublin.
The incident occurred on the Dolphin's Barn Bridge in Dublin 8 at around 12.30pm on Monday.
The cyclist was taken to St James's Hospital with serious injuries and was later pronounced dead. No other injuries have been reported.
The bridge was closed in order for a technical examination to take place, but the road has since reopened.
Gardaí are also appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward, especially those who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the Dolphin's Barn Bridge area between 12.15pm and 12.45pm.
Anyone with any information can contact Crumlin Garda station on 01 666 6200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
Earlier, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the fact there have been more road deaths so far in 2023 than all of 2022 is a “matter of enormous concern”.
As of Monday evening, there have been 165 road fatalities in Ireland so far this year.
Speaking to reporters at the opening of the N22 Baile Bhuirne-Macroom bypass in Co Cork, Mr Varadkar said: “We made so much progress in the last couple of decades.
"There was a time when 600, 700 people were dying on our roads and it is really disturbing to see that number that had come down go back up again – and something I’ll be taking a personal interest in as Taoiseach.”
Mr Varadkar said the possibility of more funding for the roads budget would be re-examined under a review of the National Development Plan.
However, he said there was a Government commitment that public transport would be favoured in a 2:1 ratio over roads when it comes to funding for new transport projects.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said she is "absolutely committed" to reversing the worrying trend in road deaths this year.
Her comments came earlier on Monday after two teenagers were killed in a collision in Co Donegal.
Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of the single-vehicle crash on the R238 at Terrawee in Gleneely at around 12.30am.
"It's been a really worrying time. It's been hugely upsetting to see the trend move in the direction that it has," she said in reaction to the latest fatalities in Donegal," Ms McEntee said.
"We need to do more collectively, from myself to Minister [Jack] Chambers, to those working in the roads authority, we have all said that we need to do more.
An 18-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman were pronounced dead at the scene.
Their bodies have since been removed to Letterkenny University Hospital.
A third person in the car, a man in his late teens, has been taken to Letterkenny University Hospital with injuries which are believed to be non-life-threatening.
Gardaí in Buncrana are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them.
"Any road users who were travelling on the R238 in the early hours of this morning between midnight and 1am and has camera footage (including dash-cam), is asked to make this available to gardaí," the spokesperson added.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Buncrana Garda Station on 074 932 0540, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
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