Four people were killed in road accidents over the weekend and more than 70 of the occupants of a bus and coach were injured in crashes in Co Mayo and Dublin. Gardai are appealing for witnesses to a hit-and-run accident in which a woman was killed on Saturday at 10.30 p.m. The woman was named yesterday as Ms Eleanor Cullinane (21), Coolfin, Portlaw, Waterford. She was a nurse at Waterford Regional Hospital.
Ms Cullinane was a front-seat passenger in a car which had stopped at traffic lights at the junction with Ballybeg Drive and the main Waterford/Cork Road, on the outskirts of Waterford city. It was involved in a crash with another car, carrying two people and travelling from the city.
Gardai are seeking the occupants of the car which left the scene. A Garda spokesman said the vehicle was not being driven by its registered owner.
An appeal has been issued to anyone who witnessed the crash to contact gardai in Waterford at 051 874888.
In Co Wexford yesterday, a woman was killed when the car she was driving crashed into a tree and caught fire. She was alone in the vehicle when the accident happened at about 2 a.m. at Knocknalour, Bunclody.
There were two fatal accidents in Co Clare. Mr John Joseph Donnellan (18), Slieve Elva, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, was killed late on Friday night when the car in which he was travelling collided with a parked lorry on Kilrush Road, Ennis.
Mr Donnellan's body was later discovered, shortly after 10.45 p.m., several hundred yards away at Phoenix Court housing estate. The car in which Mr Donnellan was travelling was later located by gardai at Mill Road, Ennis, over half a mile from where his body was found.
A man was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act in connection with the incident.
A pedestrian who was killed early on Saturday morning in Co Clare was named yesterday as Mr Christopher Rynne (19), Honan's Terrace, Hermitage, Ennis.
Mr Rynne was accompanied by another pedestrian at Tulla Road, Roslevan, Ennis, when they were struck by a car at 2.45 a.m. Both were taken to Ennis General Hospital, where Mr Rynne was pronounced dead on arrival.
A woman was arrested and later released without charge. A file is being sent to the DPP.
In Dublin, a double-deck bus crashed into a railway bridge at about 4 p.m. yesterday at Sandwith Street. The No 19A bus, travelling northwards, was unable to pass under the bridge. There were 30 people on the bus and 23 were taken to St James's and St Vincent's Hospitals. They were believed to have back and neck injuries, and minor cuts. None was reported to be seriously hurt. The last of the injured was released from hospital late last night.
A Dublin Bus spokesman said buses had been diverted because of the parade and the driver took a wrong turn. DART services were delayed for a short time while engineers inspected the bridge to ensure that it was safe.
On Saturday, 47 students, four teachers and a coach driver were injured when the private bus in which they were travelling fell 12 feet into a bog in Co Mayo.
The coach left the road near Mulranny, Co Mayo, while returning from a school outing to Achill Island. The students and staff are from Mungret Comprehensive School, Limerick.
The coach occupants were taken to Mayo General Hospital but most were discharged on Saturday evening. A girl, three boys and the coach diver were discharged from the hospital yesterday.
The student group included the Fine Gael leader's son Michael Noonan jnr (17), who suffered minor cuts. His brother John, one of the teachers travelling on the bus, was unhurt.