Two people have died and a third has been injured following a traffic collision on Tuesday morning involving an overturned car transporter and three other vehicles near Ringaskiddy in Cork.
A major emergency response operation took place following the crash that happened shortly before 11.15am on Tuesday. Emergency services continued to work through the afternoon at the scene of the collision on the N28 Cork Ringaskiddy Road between Shannon Park roundabout in Carrigaline and Shanbally village.
It is understood that the car transporter jackknifed, overturning on its side as it attempted to avoid a collision.
The occupants of one of the cars, a man and woman, were pronounced dead at the scene. Their bodies were removed to the mortuary at Cork University Hospital.
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The couple were named locally as Pat and Berna Allen of Carrigaline in Co Cork. Mr Allen (83) was a former employee of Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals in Ringaskiddy.
He and his wife, Berna (82), were long-time members of Raffeen Creek Golf Club in Ringaskiddy. She was a former lady captain at the club while he also held numerous positions over the years.
The driver of a second car was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital. His injures were not life-threatening. The drivers of the transporter and third car involved in the collision were both medically assessed at the scene but did not require hospital treatment.
Diversions were in place while the scene was being attended to by gardaí and emergency services. All traffic heading to and from Ringaskiddy port was being diverted to side roads. Traffic disruption is expected to continue for a significant period of time. A technical examination is also scheduled to take place.
Delays were being reported on the back roads in the area. Gardaí were in contact with local employers to keep staff in various large companies up to date on the diversions arising out of the crash.
Gardaí in Togher are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to come forward. They are also appealing to road users who were travelling on the N28 in the Shannon Park area between 10.45am and 11am with camera footage, including dash cam, to make it available to them.