Two people die in separate crashes as death toll on Irish roads continues to rise

Number of people who have died on State’s roads now at 44 – up 25 on last year

A man in his late-40s died in a collision in Limerick, while a man in his 80s died in a crash in Dublin. Photograph: iStock
A man in his late-40s died in a collision in Limerick, while a man in his 80s died in a crash in Dublin. Photograph: iStock

Two people have died in separate crashes on either side of the country on Thursday. A man in his late-40s died in a collision in Limerick, while a man in his 80s died in a crash in Dublin.

The incidents bring to 44 the number of people killed on the State’s roads between January 1st and March 24th – some 25 more than a similar period in 2021.

The first of Thursday’s fatal crashes happened at the junction of Old Cratloe and Woodcockhill roads in Limerick at about 10am.

A man aged in his late 40s was killed in the two-car collision. His body was taken to University Hospital Limerick where a postmortem was due to take place. The male driver of the same vehicle, aged in his mid-20s, was taken to University Hospital Limerick to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

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The male driver of the second vehicle, aged in his late 60s, was uninjured.

The road remained closed on Thursday evening as Garda forensic collision investigators examined the scene. Local diversions were in place.

The second death happened in Shankill Co Dublin on Thursday afternoon at about 1.30pm. The male driver, aged in his 80s and sole occupant of the one car involved, was critically injured in a crash at Corbawn Lane. He was removed to St Vincent’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The road was closed pending the arrival of forensic collision investigators. Local diversions were in place.

Gardaí have asked for any witnesses to either crash to come forward. Any witnesses who were travelling on the Old Cratloe Road or Woodcockhill Road in Limerick between 9.30am and 10am or those with dash-cam footage are asked to contact Henry Street Garda station on 061 212400, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

Similarly, any witnesses or those with footage of the incident on Corbawn Lane in Shankill are asked to contact Dún Laoghaire Garda station on 01 666 5000, the Garda Confidential Line or any Garda station.

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien is an Irish Times journalist