Lorry driver killed, bringing weekly toll on roads to nine

A man was killed in a traffic accident between a lorry and a van on the N4 road at Killeighter Cross, Kilcock, Co Kildare, yesterday.

The 49-year-old driver of an articulated lorry from Ballinasloe, Co Galway, was fatally injured after he collided with the van. A 43-year-old woman who sustained injuries in the accident was taken to Blanchardstown hospital with serious injuries. Diversions were put in place and commuters were asked to avoid the area.

The death brought the number of people killed in the last seven days to nine.

The number of fatalities on roads to date this year is up 26 on the same period last year.

Meanwhile, investigations are continuing into the crash on the N25 Wexford-New Ross road which claimed the life of a 41-year-old teacher and left two children seriously injured. Mr Fergal Egan from Ballycullane, Co Wexford, was returning from a holiday in France with his wife Beverly on Thursday when their car was in collision with a people carrier near Carrigbyrne.

The accident occurred shortly after 1.30 p.m. on a wide but winding stretch of road about eight miles from New Ross. Mr Egan was pronounced dead at the scene, while the others, including a mother and her two young daughters, were rushed to hospital in Wexford.

The driver of the Seat people carrier, Ms Stella Meaney from Inistioge, Co Kilkenny, sustained multiple broken bones in the head-on collision and was later transferred to Waterford Regional Hospital.

Her youngest daughter, Sinead (6), was brought to Beaumont Hospital where she remained in a serious condition last night, while her other child, Aoife (10), was continuing to be treated at Wexford's intensive care unit.

Gardaí in New Ross have said there were no "direct witnesses" to the accident but appealed for motorists who may have been on that particular section of the N25 around 1.30 p.m. on Thursday to contact them.

A young Co Tyrone motorcyclist lost his life just after 7 p.m. on Thursday night when his motorbike collided with a van on the Kilclear Road, near his home town of Castlederg.

The man was named as Mr Kenneth Monteith (21), of Lisnacloone Road, Castlederg.

The road was closed for a time while police, who were appealing for witnesses to the accident, carried out an examination of the scene.

The van driver was not hurt in the crash.