A mother (58) and daughter (22) have been killed in a road collision in north Cork.
The incident happened at about 11.30am on the R666 Fermoy to Ballyduff road.
The pair were from the Kilworth area and were on their way into Fermoy when the incident happened.
It is understood they were in a car which was in collision with another vehicle and ended up in a stream.
Medics are at the scene. The woman driving the second car was not seriously injured.
The road was closed at the junction with the local Kilworth Road to facilitate forensic collision investigators.
It is understood the vehicles clipped each other before the dead women’s car left the road and entered the waterway.
The tragedy occurred after new statistics were unveiled showing 154 people had up until then been killed in road incidents in Ireland this year - a fall of 37 on last year.
Official figures compiled from Road Safety Authority and Garda reports showed there were 148 fatal incidents on the roads up to December 22nd, down almost a fifth on the same period last year.
Driving while intoxicated
Exposing the risks caused by a minority of people, gardaí revealed 381 people have been arrested for driving while intoxicated during a four-week crackdown.
Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe said the reduction in road deaths was encouraging, but every death was one too many.
He warned of the almost inevitable fatalities on the country’s roads over the Christmas holidays.
“It is estimated, however, that a further eight people may die over the Christmas period, further highlighting the fact that the opportunity is there for each and every one of us to prevent this from happening by making good choices, whether we are out walking, cycling, biking or driving,” he said.
“But not only can we save more lives, we also have the possibility of making 2015 the safest year on our roads, since we began recording road deaths in 1959.
‘Fitting tribute’
“Such an achievement would be a fitting tribute and mark of respect to the many thousands of people who have died or been injured on the road. So together let’s make this Christmas a safe one and save lives.”
Broken down into road user category, the official figures showed 69 drivers, 25 passengers, 31 pedestrians, 20 motorcyclists and nine cyclists died in road incidents this year.
The biggest single reduction in deaths based on age profile was among children aged 15 and under - down to three from 15.
But road safety chiefs also warned that more than a quarter of drivers and almost a third of passengers killed on the roads were not wearing a seatbelt.
Moyagh Murdock, RSA chief executive, said: “It is very encouraging to see that there are fewer people killed on our roads in 2015 compared to last. I want to thank everyone for their efforts in making this happen because it is your achievement.”
Ms Murdock said the improving statistics are little comfort to those who lost loved ones this year.
