Tributes have been paid to the father of two who died in a road traffic collision on Friday night. The incident also left a teenager fighting for his life in hospital.
The deceased, named locally as Tyler Kelly, (21), from St Mary Park, Limerick, died at the scene of the two-car collision at Parteen, south east Clare.
Gardaí believe Mr Kelly was travelling in a silver BMW jeep that collided with a VW Golf. The front wall of a house was also hit in the collision impact.
The driver of the Golf, a woman in her late 30s, was treated for shock but was not seriously injured.
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Emergency first responders made efforts to save Mr Kelly’s life at the scene, however his body was subsequently removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) where a post mortem was due to take place.
A male teenager, who was also traveling in the BMW, was rushed by ambulance to UHL where he was in a “serious condition”, gardaí said.
Members of Mr Kelly’s family and neighbours were to gather at his home and release balloons on Saturday evening as friends expressed shock and shared tributes to him on social media.
“Rest easy Tyler, sad news to hear, a very nice youngfella (who) will never be forgotten, thinking of your family,” one friend wrote.
A heartfelt tribute from another friend read: “Tyler I really don’t know where to start, I wish this was all a bad dream, (you) were the nicest youngfella, a heart of gold, you were a star, one of a kind, always thought about everyone, you were so kind-hearted and caring, I will never forget you”.
Another read: “Oh Tyler I’m lost for words, why did it have to be you, please look over our family and your two beautiful kids, Rest In Peace my cousin Tyler Kelly, love you.”
Limerick gardaí appealed for witnesses, particularly any motorists with dash cam footage or CCTV footage which might assist their enquiries.
A stretch of the R463 between Larkin’s Cross and Westbury remained closed Saturday with local diversions in place.
Specially-trained Garda Forensic Collision Investigators conducted a “technical examination of the scene” as gardaí investigated all circumstances surrounding the collision.
Gardaí asked that anyone with information would contact Henry Street Garda Station on 061 212 400 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.