Road crashes claim seven lives in one day on island of Ireland
A couple in their 40s died on the Tramore Road in Co Waterford on Saturday. The scene of the accident is less than 5km from Waterford City and 3km from Tramore. Picture: Jim Campbell
Seven people were killed in road crashes on the island of Ireland on Saturday, including a 16-year-old girl.
A couple in their 40s died after their car and a van collided on the Tramore Road in Co Waterford at about midday. The man has been named locally as Brian Frisby. He was from a widely respected Waterford family and was a father of two.
He and his wife were living in Kildare for some years, but were back in Waterford on Saturday.
Locals said that the road where the couple died — the R675 at Robin Hill — is a straight, wide road. But it is a busy road, and Saturday’s weather was misty.
Two people, a man in his 50s and a juvenile male, who were in the van, remained in University Hospital Waterford on Sunday, it is understood. Their injuries are not life-threatening.
Fine Gael councillor Lola O’Sullivan said that the local Waterford community is devastated by the couple’s death.
“It’s tragic for everyone involved,” Ms O’Sullivan said.
Independent councillor Donal Barry said that people were shocked by the initial news of a fatal accident on the Tramore road, and when news broke that one of the victims was from a well-known local family, "it added even more of a sense of shock".
"Our heart goes out to them at this tragic time," Mr Barry said.
Read More
“There will be tough days ahead for the family, and I'm sure that the community they come from in Waterford will rally around them and do everything they can for them.
“I also wish a speedy recovery to the other people involved in the tragic accident.”
A teenage girl, 16, was killed while she was walking on the Slane Road in Navan at about 8.20pm on Saturday in a suspected hit-and-run.
A man in his 20s has been arrested in connection with her death.
The teenage girl’s local community is in shock and praying for her family, Fianna Fáil local councillor and chair of Meath County Council, Padraig Fitzsimons said.
“This was a local girl,” Mr Fitzsimons said.
“It’s a terrible, tragic incident. My heart goes out to the girl’s family. It could have happened to any one of us.”
Meanwhile, a woman in her 80s died following a single vehicle crash at Eyrecourt in Co Galway at about 8.15pm on Saturday night.
She was the driver and sole occupant of the car.
Three people were killed in a crash on the Moy Road, Armagh, in the North before 10.30pm.
Two men, aged 49 and 31, and a 23-year-old woman were pronounced dead at the scene.
Four other people were also injured in the three-vehicle crash.
“Today we mourn the dead,” rural transport minister Jerry Buttimer said.
Saturday’s awful loss of life must remind all road users to take care, be cautious and to keep road safety central in their minds when on the roads, he said.
"We have a shared space whether we're a motorist, a cyclist or a pedestrian. And it's important that we are considerate of each other on the roads.”
The Cork TD said that road deaths have “gone the wrong way”.
But the Government has been trying to improve road safety, with a review of speed limits and investment in road infrastructure, he said.
Reducing road deaths and enhancing safety would be a combination of enforcement, engineering and education, Mr Buttimer said.
The Government has pledged to reduce road deaths by 50% by 2030.
Last year, there were 190 road traffic fatalities, an increase from 175 road deaths in 2024.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
