A 24-year-old man died after his car struck a county council traffic-calming sign on the N22 near Killarney early yesterday.
It is understood that the man, named as Daniel Waterman of the Deerpark area of Killarney, was returning from night work as a security guard in the Cork village of Ballyvourney at 7.30am when the collision near the N72 junction occurred.
The large steel sign, which indicates the measures in place at the approach to Lissivigeen Cross, where the N22 joins the road serving the Rathmore and Mallow areas, is about two miles from Killarney and in the left-hand margin of the road.
Mr Waterman's car appeared to have veered off the road. He was the sole occupant of the car and was removed by ambulance to Kerry General Hospital, where he died some hours later.
He leaves a partner and a young child.
Sgt Tom Tobin of Killarney Garda Station said it is not known why the car veered off the road, but gardaí are investigating the incident and have appealed for witnesses.
There have been 11 deaths in road traffic incidents in Co Kerry since January, which is one of the highest tolls in the State.
Yesterday, Sgt Tobin said gardaí were "extremely concerned" with the level of road deaths in the county.
Meanwhile, local councillors and residents' groups held a public meeting last week as part of a long campaign to have a roundabout built at Lissivigeen junction.
In March of this year, on foot of a motion by Cllr Danny Healy-Rae on the need for better road safety measures at the junction, the council said it had been agreed in principle with the National Roads Authority inspectorate that a roundabout was required at the location.
However, funding was not received in 2007. A further application for funding will be submitted to the National Roads Authority in 2008, the council said.
Interim measures were called for early last week by Cllr Michael Gleeson to protect children whose school is located at the cross.