More tragedy on Irish roads as Government criticised for leaving two RSA board positions unfilled

In Clare, a man died in a collision where it is understood that a vehicle hit a roadside barrier. Picture: Press 22

A teenager was left fighting for his life after a horror crash in Mayo, while a man died following an accident in Clare on Monday, as gardaí continued their bank holiday road safety campaign.

The town of Swinford, Co Mayo, was in shock yesterday as it emerged that five local teenagers had been injured in a single-vehicle incident at Deerpark, on the town’s bypass, shortly before 4am.

The road was closed for several hours for a forensic investigation as prayers were said locally for the recovery of the boys, including one whose condition was described as critical.

The five were taken to Mayo University Hospital. Anyone who may have witnessed the collision has been asked to come forward. Road users with camera footage who were travelling in the area at the time have been asked to make this footage available to investigating gardaí.

The Clare incident occurred shortly after 12.30pm on the N85 western relief road near Ennis.

It is understood that a vehicle hit a roadside barrier at least once before coming to a stop on the footpath.

A motorist stopped and ran to the driver’s aid, but the man was found in a collapsed state. It is believed that the motorist dragged the man from the car and attempted resuscitation on the roadway, assisted by another motorist who also stopped, until paramedics arrived.

The driver of the vehicle, who is believed to be in his 40s, was rushed to University Hospital Limerick for treatment where he later died, gardaí confirmed.

It is the second road-related tragedy in Clare over the bank holiday weekend.

On Saturday morning, the death of a pedestrian after being hit by a car on the N18 at Portdrine meant the number of deaths on Irish roads so far this year reached 80.

To the end of May, there were six more deaths than the corresponding five months in 2023, with 30 drivers, 20 passengers, 14 pedestrians, and 10 motorcyclists among the deceased, according to Garda data.

The bank holiday campaign saw 137 motorists arrested for driving under the influence between 7am on Thursday and 7am on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Government has been criticised for leaving two positions on the board of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) unfilled — despite an increase in fatalities and serious accidents.

Labour TD Duncan Smith called on the positions, which have been vacant since January, to be immediately filled “given the alarming increase in road deaths”.

However, the minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers, said that the board appointments will not be made ahead of an independent review of the RSA, which will look at organisational structures, funding model, service provision, and strategic goals for the coming years.

He said the quorum of the board is set at five members, “and the current composition of the board fulfils all legislative requirements”.