Man killed in Limerick minibus crash named locally

Gardaí at the scene of the fatal collision in Limerick.

A man has died after the minibus he was driving crashed into a bridge in Limerick.

Gardaí and emergency services were called to the scene on the R463 overnight after a collision occurred at around 2.55am

A minibus had struck the Athlunkard Bridge on the Corbally Road.

The male driver of the minibus was fatally injured as a result. He was the sole occupant of the minibus.

He has been named locally as Darren Ryan from Meelick, a father-of-one who was a mini-bus contractor.

On Sunday afternoon the bus which was lying on its side on one of two traffic lanes on the bridge as gardaí examined the debris, was winched by a crane onto a recovery truck and tank to a compound to be further examined by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

The road remains closed on Sunday morning, while the man's body has been removed to University Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem will be conducted.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward.

A spokesperson said: "Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the R463 between 2.30am and 3.30am this morning Sunday 5th November, 2023 are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.

"Anyone with any information is asked to contact Henry Street Garda station on 061 212 400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station."

It is the second fatal accident on our roads in the last 24 hours.

Around 7pm on Saturday evening, a female pedestrian in her 70s was killed in a crash in Co Clare.

She had been struck by a van on N67 at Moyasta between Kilrush and Kilkee.

A father of one, well-known in Limerick rugby and Clare GAA circles, died tragically when his minibus struck a bridge on the Limerick-Clare border early this morning.

The deceased, named locally as Darren Ryan, 30, from Meelick, was a popular mini-bus contractor transporting customers on camping trips as well as stag and hen tours.

“Darren was the nicest fella, he would have been very involved in St Munchins College rugby team, his family are a very talented and sporting family, they run a farm and a coach hire business in Meelick, they’ve all been high achievers, they’d be inspirational local people,” said a family friend.

“They are a very well known rugby family, a big ‘Young Munster’s’ family and very involved in the Meelick GAA club.” 

"Darren was very fit, a great athlete, he would have played sports all his life, particularly rugby where he played in the forwards.” 

"Their buses would be on the road the whole time, bringing people in and out of Limerick City.” Darren Ryan had also been operating a transport service for stag and hen parties, and had recently started transporting people on camping breaks.

“He did a lot of stag, hens and night time runs for people, he was a real hard grafter, self-employed and he had also started taking people on camping trips.” 

“He was a fabulous fella, you couldn't meet nicer, it’s devastating, just shocking.”

Mr Ryan is survived by his partner and young son Raemie, parents Trish and Ray, sister Dawn, brothers Evan, Gavin.