The death of a Wexford man following a car collision yesterday brings the number of fatalities to 39 this year and marks the worst January for road fatalities in more than five years.
The driver, who was named by gardaí as Patrick Mernagh (20), Ross Road, Enniscorthy, died when his Fiat Punto collided with a tractor outside the village of Oylegate on the N11 Wexford to Enniscorthy road at 2pm yesterday.
The deceased man's partner, Tracey Tyrell, and her five-month-old son, Dylan, were passengers in the car, which was heading in the direction of Enniscorthy when the crash occurred.
Two fire brigades, ambulance crews and gardaí were quickly on the scene but Mr Mernagh was pronounced dead a short time later.
Although all passengers were originally taken to Wexford General Hospital, the child, who was described as being serious but stable, was moved to Crumlin hospital in Dublin, while his mother, who was said to be in a stable condition, was transferred to Waterford Regional Hospital last night.
The driver of the tractor was not hurt.
Meanwhile, an 89-year-old woman has died following a car crash at Carrow Naffe in Moville, Co Donegal, last Wednesday.
Yesterday, gardaí also named the 20-year-old woman who died when the car she was driving crashed into a lamp-post on the M1 near Dundalk on Monday morning.
Nicola Sheridan, Sliabh Breagh, Ardee, Co Louth, died in the crash near Majors Hollow, Dundalk.
Of the 39 people killed on Irish roads in January, 18 were aged under 30, seven were aged between 30 and 50, and 14 were aged over 50.
In 21 cases, the deceased was the driver of the vehicle, while seven were passengers and nine were pedestrians.
One cyclist and one motorcyclist also sustained fatal injuries.