'A tragic loss': Limerick mourning as boy, 12, dies after car he was driving collides with lorry

Gardaí pictured at the scene on the N21 near Adare, Co Limerick where a 12-year-old boy was killed when the car he was driving collided with a lorry. Picture: Caitlín Griffin

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses and dash-cam footage after a 12-year old boy died when the car he was driving collided head-on with an articulated lorry on Friday.

The boy, named locally as Wiktor Chojecki, from Newcastle West, Co Limerick, was driving a grey coloured Nissan Qashqai owned by his family, just before 2am, when it collided with a heavy goods truck.

The crash occurred on the N21 at Rineroe near Adare, gardaí said.

The boy whose mother, Ewa, and father, Bartosc, settled in Newcastle West after emigrating from their native Poland, was a first-year student attending Scoil Mhuire agus Ide, in the town, and a past pupil at the local Gaelscoil O’Doghair.

Sean Lane, Principal, Scoil Mhuire agus Ide, said the boy started secondary school last September and that he was popular amongst pupils and teachers.

“Wiktor is sadly missed, his lots of friends in the school are upset this morning after hearing the tragic news, and the family are in Newcastle West for many many years and are very much part of the community,” said Mr Lane.

“It’s such a tragic loss and we are supporting our students in the school community today. Our critical incident management plan was implemented where we had our Year Heads, Class Tutors, and our counselors in school, working with the students. We also had the NEPS (National Educational Psychological Service) psychologists in the school today to support all students across the whole school who may be affected by he tragedy.” 

“We were all very shocked and upset to learn of the tragedy this morning and it’s very hard for our students to put into words how they are feeling, but there is great sadness and shock amongst all the school community,” he offered.

“The death of anyone from part of our school community really effects you, so we are just trying to support each other in the school, and that’s the biggest thing in these situations, is to offer support to everyone within our school community and in the local community to try to help each other through these difficult times.” 

Paying tribute to the boy, Mr Lane said: “He was very well-liked and he mixed well with students and with staff members.” 

Ewa and Bartosc Chojecki were being comforted by family and friends and a large Polish community in Newcastle West.

Garda appeal

The incident involving a car and a lorry occurred shortly before 2am on the N21 at Rineroe near Adare, Co Limerick.

The road is currently closed to preserve the scene for examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

Diversions are in place with city-bound traffic being diverted from Adare via Croom.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N21 near Adare area at the time of the collision are asked to make this footage available to gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Newcastlewest Garda Station on 069-20650, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

His body has since been removed to the morgue at University Hospital Limerick and the coroner has been notified.

The driver of the lorry, a man aged in his 40s, did not require hospital treatment.

The parish priest of Adare, Monsignor Dan Neenan, who said prayers at the scene of the fatal incident praised the work of the emergency services.

Fr Neenan said he had been called to the scene at 4am by gardaí and when he arrived the body of the boy was being taken from the car.

He said that it was clear the young boy had passed away and so he said prayers.

The emergency services at the scene were wonderful and professional, he told RTÉ radio's News at One.

Fr Neenan remained at the scene until the parents of the boy arrived, "they were obviously so shocked and were incredibly dignified."

The parents were given a few minutes alone with their son after which they spoke and prayed with Fr Neenan.

When leaving the scene the boy's mother spoke to and thanked all the emergency personnel for their services.

Local TD and Junior Minister Niall Collins says it is a terrible tragedy and the thoughts of the community are with the boy's family.

He said they are also thinking of the lorry driver who Mr Collins said is "very shaken" by the events.

"It's a really shocking incident. We are used to hearing of road collisions but never are we used to hearing of collisions where a child age 12 was the driver of a vehicle."

The local community is very shocked and numb today as they struggle to come to terms with the news, he said.