Driver (20s) dies in Co Cork road crash as two passengers injured; cyclist (60s) seriously hurt in separate incident

A man in his 20s has died in a road crash in Co Cork in the early hours of this morning.

Separately, a cyclist in his 60s was seriously injured when he was struck by a car in north Co Kildare.

Gardaí attended the scene of the single-vehicle collision that happened about 2.30am in the townland of Rathanker near Passage West, Co Cork.

The driver of the car was fatally injured during the crash. Two other occupants of the car were taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment for their injuries, which are understood to be non-life threatening.

The local road in Rathanker was closed and traffic diversions were put in place. Garda Forensic Collision Investigators were today conducting an examination of the scene. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward.

Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the L2474 road between Rochestown and Monkstown, between 2am and 2.45am this morning are asked to make this footage available to gardaí.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Togher Garda Station on at 021 494 7120, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

In Co Kildare, just after noon on Sunday a man in his 60s received serious injuries after a crash involving a car and his bicycle.

The incident happened on the R125 at Phepotstown, Kilcock, Co. Meath.

The man was brought from the scene by ambulance to Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, with serious injuries.

The area was being preserved for examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators, and local traffic diversions were put in place.

The occupants of the car did not require immediate medical attention.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to the collision to come forward.

Additionally, road users who may have been traveling on the R125 between Dunbyone and Kilcock at the time, and possess camera footage, are asked to provide it to investigating Gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ashbourne Garda Station at 01 8010600, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

It comes at the end of another bleak week on the roads in which six people died on the roads, bringing to 35 the toll so far this year.

Provisional figures show that 32 people died in the same period last year.

Two more people, a young girl and a man in his 40s, also died from injuries they received in separate crashes.

Rickie Devine (19), from Keash, near Ballymote, Co Sligo, was killed in a single-vehicle collision occurred on the N17 at Ballinacarrow, shortly after 8.15pm on Thursday.

His funeral will take place on Monday at St Kevin’s Church, Keash, at noon.

Tuesday was a particularly bad day on the roads, with three deaths from two separate collisions.

Darragh Dullea (20), from Clonakilty, Co Cork, and Cillian Kirwan (19), from Piltown, Co Kilkenny, died in Limerick when the car in which they were passengers struck a wall on Tuesday evening near Ballyengland outside Askeaton on the N69 Limerick-Tralee road.

They were both second-year students at the Salesian Agricultural College in Pallaskenry, Co Limerick. Two other young students of the college were injured in the incident.

Mr Dullea’s funeral took place on Saturday, and a private cremation ceremony is due to take place for Mr Kirwan on Monday.

Also on Tuesday, James Moyles (33) was struck by a car on Lord Edward Street, Ballina, Co Mayo, about 6.25pm as he walked with his young niece.

Heartbroken locals said he looked after his six-year-old niece regularly, and together they enjoyed a daily trip to a sweet shop for a treat. The fatal incident happened as they were crossing the road

The young girl has since been discharged from hospital.

Local councillor Mark Duffy said there was a dark cloud hanging over Ballina since the incident.

“James was well known throughout the community and you would always see him out and about. He was a gentle giant and a lovely guy,” he said.

His funeral is due to take place on Monday at St Patrick’s Church, Ballina at 11am with burial to take place at Leigue Cemetery.

Last Monday, Katie Houlihan (21) died after the car she was driving crashed on the R685 at Quillia, Tramore, Co Waterford, about 10.15pm.

She was a native of The Hermitage, Coxtown, Dunmore East, and was the driver and sole occupant of the only car involved. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Katie was from the Dunmore East area where her family are well known. It’s understood she had a gym membership in Tramore and travelled there a few times every week from Dunmore East.

At the time of the crash, she had been driving from Tramore towards her home. She had studied Religion and English and was a popular member of the Second Port Sea Scouts in her home town. The Second Port Sea Scouts and Dunmore East RNLI expressed their condolences to her family. Her funeral took place last Friday.

Separate to those incidents this week, two people have died following collisions earlier this month.

On Valentine’s Day, Paul Ryan (44), was rushed to hospital with serious injuries following a crash between a car and an SUV on the R401 at Coolygagen, Co Offaly.

He was a passenger in the car and died last Tuesday from the injuries he sustained. He was from the Newcastle area of Galway. His funeral took place on Friday.

The female driver of the SUV, aged in her 40s, was taken to Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore for treatment for serious injuries.

And last Sunday gardai confirmed the death of a six-year-old girl who had been injured in a single-vehicle crash that occurred shortly before 4pm on Thursday February 8, on the M6 eastbound between Tyrellspass and Rochfortbridge in Co Westmeath.

Hana Meshkat, from Knocknacarra in Galway, suffered serious injuries, and was pronounced deceased at Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street on Saturday, February 17.

Two other occupants in the car at the time, a man in his 40s and a boy aged nine, escaped serious injuries.

A private funeral was due to be held for her.

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